Three popular ideas about explorers-that are false! Christopher Columbus discovers America. FALSE Leif Ericson was probably the first European to visit North America-and there were already people living there when he arrived. Ericson was the 1 leader of the Vikings, who were sea explores from Scandinavia. Their search for 2 trades and 3 treasures took them to North America in the year 1000. Christopher Columbus didn't arrive until 1492. When he did, he was lost. He thought he and his men were near Asia!.