Who as the first explorer of the new world?

The title of the first explorer of the New World is often attributed to Christopher Columbus, who made his famous voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492 and landed in the Bahamas. However, it's important to note that Norse explorer Leif Erikson reached parts of North America, specifically what is now Newfoundland, Canada, around the year 1000, well before Columbus. Thus, while Columbus is credited with opening the Americas to European exploration and colonization, Erikson was the first known European to set foot in the region.