Viking Longships for Kids

🌊 Flat-Bottomed for Rivers and Beaches

Viking longships were designed in a way that allowed the Vikings to explore the world by sea or river. Viking longships were essentially like a very large canoe.

They were flat-bottomed, which meant they could sail through very shallow waters, including rivers. It also allowed the ship to land on beaches, which meant the Vikings could jump onto the land quickly and attack, unlike most typical warships which had to anchor hundreds of metres out from the coast.

🐉 Wooden Ships with Fearsome Figureheads

Viking longships were made from wood, some with elaborately carved designs on the exterior. Viking ships often had creatures' heads carved as the figurehead at the front of a longship. Dragons or serpents were popular to bring fear.