Gardarr Svavarsson
Artist's impression of Garðarr Svavarsson ( Artūras Slapšys , 2013)
Garðarr Svavarsson ( Swedish Gardar Svavarsson ) was a Swedish Viking of the 9th century who played a major role in the discovery of Iceland .
A major storm off the Pentland Firth pushed his ship northward until it reached the eastern coast of Iceland. Garðarr Svavarsson was not the first seafarer to sight the island (see History of Iceland ), but the first to systematically search and explore the country around 875 . He was the first to circumnavigate the island, reaching land at Skjálfandi . He discovered that it was a large island and wintered in the north in Húsavík , where he founded a settlement. He also built a house. He gave the island the name Garðarsholmur , meaning Garðars Holm .
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| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Gardarr Svavarsson |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Gardar Svavarsson |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Swedish Viking |
| DATE OF BIRTH | before 875 |
| DATE OF DEATH | 9th century or 10th century |