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A Viking Ship

The Longship was the racing warship of the Vikings.

It was usually about 25m/ 80ft long. The longest ever discovered was at Roskilde. It was 35m long. The largest ships would carry more than 60 fierce warriors.

Because the boat was very shallow it could sail up to almost any beach or sail miles up shallow rivers.

Each side had holes for oars, and a single mast in the middle carried a large, square sail.

The Vikings thought a great deal about their ships. If you were incredibly rich ,,, when you died ... your ship would be buried with you!

There are stories told about dead Viking warriors being burned with their ships.

Up-Helly-Aa from Shetland

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For 'advanced' information about Longships read this article from the

Scientific American.

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