The most famous historical person originating from Iceland is universally recognized as Leif Erikson (Leifur Eiríksson), the renowned Viking explorer who sailed west and established a Norse settlement in Vinland (North America) around the year 1000 AD, centuries before Christopher Columbus. In modern contexts, globally acclaimed contemporary music artists like Björk and Sigur Rós also rank among the most internationally famous figures from the island nation.