usa

[ben1948]

who discovered america

[JohnPPotts]

Well, the obvious answer is Christopher Columbus, though he never actually reached the mainland (he only reached Hispaniola). I think it was Amerigo Vespucci that was the first European to land on the mainland (he certainly gave his name to the Continent). That is, of course, unless you think the Vikings got there first (they certainly landed in Greenland, and from there it's a fairly short hop to the Canada). Not forgetting all the Native Americans, who presumably migrated from the West accross the Bering Strait (between Russia and Alaska).

[davver]

The first person to reach the mainland was John Cabot, an Englishman, in a ship called the Mathew. This was a few years after Colombus, about 12 I think. The Viking who is supposed to have discovered America is Red Eric, aka Erik the Red.

[JohnPPotts]

You'd think I'd remember that - it was 1498 & I ought to remember as they built a replica of "The Matthew" for the Quincentenary - which was on display about a mile from where I live!