Kon-Tiki Expedition – by raft across the Pacific

Thor Heyerdahl was a Norwegian anthropologist, explorer and writer who became famous for turning a migration theory into a real ocean experiment.

He believed that ancient people from South America might have reached Polynesia on simple rafts, even though mainstream scholarship has generally not accepted that as the main origin of Polynesian settlement.

That idea led to the Kon-Tiki expedition in 1947. Heyerdahl and five companions sailed from Peru on a raft built of balsa logs, meant to show what premodern seafarers could potentially have used.

Before departure, Thor Heyerdahl was required by Peruvian authorities to sign a waiver stating that no one was responsible for their safety or lives.

On April 28, 1947, Kon-Tiki set sail, and after 101 days and 4500 nm of risk and adventure, the raft struck a reef near Raroia in Tuamotu.

Here is the story by Thor Heyerdahl in his own words.

This is a story of courage and devotion that makes you rethink your own life.

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