Leif Erikson (Leifr Eriksson) Statue of the Icelandic explorer in front of the Reykjavik Hallgrímskirkja. The statue was a gift from the United States in 1930 for the 1000th anniversary of Iceland's parliament. According to Icelandic legends, Leif was the first explorer to find and settle in North America ("Vinland") around the year 1002.