The world's largest replica of a Viking drakkar has safely crossed the Atlantic Ocean and arrived in Newfoundland.
The ship, «Harald I», sailed from its home port in Haugesund, Norway, to the United States in May 2016. Its mission was to repeat the journey of Viking Leif Eriksson, who, according to Scandinavian mythology, discovered America 500 years before Christopher Columbus' famous voyage.
Drakkar «Harald I» was built in 2012. It is a 114-foot vessel with 25 pairs of oars and a displacement of 70 tons. It took two years to build the replica. Data from archaeological excavations and information from Norwegian sagas were used in its construction.
The drakkar has no cabins in the modern sense of the word. To accommodate the crew, the vessel has a tent under which 16 sailors can simultaneously take shelter. The crew change every four hours. Of the covered areas, there are two lavatories and a small storage room for navigational instruments. There is also an under deck storage area for food. Food is cooked outdoors.
