Ginnungagap

[jerri]

According to legend this was the yawning void that existed before everything. At one end was ice and the other extreme heat-much like the earth's climate. This was back in the 15th century so it's not likely they knew about the entire earth's climate.

 

[LegendofJoe]

It goes back much further.
Snorri wrote his Edda in the 13th century.
And the material he used goes even further back.