Who was the first European to reach the Western Hemisphere?

The first European widely recognized to reach the Western Hemisphere was Christopher Columbus in 1492. He landed on various islands in the Caribbean, including present-day Bahamas, during his voyage sponsored by Spain. While Norse explorer Leif Erikson is believed to have reached parts of North America around 1000 AD, Columbus's expeditions marked the beginning of widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas.