On Thu,  2 Dec 2004 08:53:58 -0600, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

> Quoting William Robb <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
> > 
> > My understanding is that Iceland is about the most inaptly named 
> > country in the world.
> > Greenland is perhaps a bit less aptly named....
> 
> Named by the same people, right?

The way I heard it, which might be urban legend, was that Eric the Red
(IIRC) "discovered" both (from a Euro-centric POV) and named Iceland
and Greenland the opposite of what they "really were" to dissuade other
Europeans from going after Iceland.

TTYL, DougF KG4LMZ


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