Straumfjörð - Misplaced Pages

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Straumfjörð (Old Norse and Icelandic), sometimes anglisised to Straumsfjordr or Straumsfjord, is a fjord in Vinland. It is described in the Saga of Erik the Red and in the Greenland saga. Its name translates to "Current-fjord", "Stream-fjord" or "Tide-fjord".

Location

The exact location of Straumfjörð is not known. Consequently, it is not known whether the two sagas refer to the exact same location. The only Norse settlement which has been recovered in North America beyond Greenland is located on L'Anse aux Meadows.

Saga of Erik the Red

According to the Saga of Erik the Red, Straumfjörð is located beyond the Wonderstrands (Furðustrandir). It describes the area thusly, according to an 1880 translation by J. Sephton:

Now, when they had sailed by Furdustrandir, they put the Scotch people on land, and requested them to run into the southern regions, seek for choice land, and come back after three half-days were passed. (...) Then did they cast anchors from the ships, and lay there to wait for them. And when three days were expired the Scotch people leapt down from the land, and one of them had in his hand a bunch of grapes, and the other an ear of wild wheat.
They said to Karlsefni that they considered they had found good and choice land. Then they received them into their ship, and proceeded on their journey to where the shore was cut into by a firth. They directed the ships within the firth. There was an island lying out in front of the firth, and there were great currents around the island, which they called Straums-ey (Stream-island). There were so many birds on it that scarcely was it possible to put one's feet down for the eggs. They continued their course up the firth, which they called Straumsfjordr, and carried their cargo ashore from the ships, and there they prepared to stay. They had with them cattle of all kinds, and for themselves they sought out the produce of the land thereabout. There were mountains, and the place was fair to look upon.
They gave no heed to anything except to explore the land, and they found large pastures. They remained there during the winter, which happened to be a hard one, with no work doing; and they were badly off for food, and the fishing failed. Then they went out to the island, hoping that something might be got there from fishing or from what was drifted ashore. In that spot there was little, however, to be got for food, but their cattle found good sustenance.

Later, after giving up settling farther south due to the presence of hostile Skrælings, Karlsefni and his men again reach Straumsfjord when retreating northwards:

Afterwards they came to a headland and a multitude of wild animals; and this headland appeared as if it might be a cake of cow-dung, because the animals passed the winter there. Now they came to Straumsfjordr, where also they had abundance of all kinds.

Hence, if the saga's accounts are accurate, Straumfjörð is located in a area which at the time was bountiful with animals, beyond certain awe-inspiring sandy beaches which are in turn located beyond Helluland and Markland, it has an island in front of it which was packed with birds, and it is primarily characterised by strong currents or tides.

Suggested locations

As the coastline of North America is vast, the fjord and island, if relatively unassuming, can be located at a large number of locations. However, according to the sagas the location is south of Markland, which is often assumed to be Labrador.

Paul Chapman suggests that Straumsey is Belle Isle and that Straumsfjord is at the Strait of Belle Isle. Other possibilities in the general area is that Straumsfjord is St. Lawrence river, and that Straumsey is one of the islands off the river. In Nova Scotia, the Bay of Fundy is claimed to have the highest tides in the world; if so, the bird-rich island is Grand Manan Island. If Straumsfjord is located in Labrador, Lake Melville is a possible candidate.

Location

Saga of Erik the Red

Suggested locations

References