The Kon-Tiki Expedition: By Raft Across the South Seas

Interesting Facts

• The Kon-Tiki expedition was organized to prove the possibility of ancient sea voyages between South America and Polynesia.
• The Kon-Tiki raft was built from balsa wood and other materials available to ancient South American peoples.
• The journey lasted 101 days and covered about 8,000 kilometers across the Pacific Ocean.
• The crew consisted of six men, including Thor Heyerdahl himself, all from different countries.
• The expedition began on April 28, 1947, from the port of Callao in Peru and ended on Raroia atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago.
• During the voyage, the crew faced various challenges, including storms and shark attacks.
• The Kon-Tiki journey attracted significant public and media attention, and was later made into a documentary film that won an Oscar in 1951.
• The expedition confirmed Heyerdahl's theory that ancient people could undertake long sea journeys on simple rafts.