Map of Europe Norway

1. Map of Europe Norway

3. Kon-Tiki Expedition

4. The story that we are going to read is about a theory that relates two geographic areas. The one is South America and the area related to it is the part of the South East Pacific Ocean called Polynesia. • What do you know about the Polynesians and the Incas? Do you think they were in some way connected a long time ago?

5. Do you believe that it is possible to cross the Pacific Ocean navigating on a raft? • The Norwegian, Thor Heyerdahl, showed that this achievement is possible. Heyerdahl visited the Pacific Islands in order to study their animal life. But soon his interest changed from the object of the animal life of the South Pacific Islands to its people and their culture. He was impressed by their native songs and the stories they recounted about their forefathers. • The Polynesians described how their forefathers came far from the east, navigating the ocean from America.

6. Heyerdahl began to investigate the Polynesian’s old histories. In order to learn about their legends, the scientist spent a long time living with the natives.. • After that, Thor Heyerdahl studied the South American cultures. What he found was that the cultures of both civilizations had a variety of things in common. • Their farmer system, their astronomic knowledge, and their social and religious organization were similar.

7. Heyerdahl focused his investigation on a concrete story of a group of men who arrived at the Islands, lead by a semi-divine chief. They came from the East and founded as natives of the Islands a new way of life. • Their leader’s name was Tiki. As Heyerdahl wanted to learn more about the similarities of these two different cultures, he soon discovered that the natives of South America also talked about a similar story.

8. They said that they also have had a leader called Kon-Tiki who developed his people in a solid civilization. But it happened that in a war with another culture, they were defeated. Their leader reunited the remaining people and escaped navigating west into the ocean in search of a secure place where to be re-established. • Heyerdahl thought that the Polynesian people came from South America. There was only one known issue to solve: the Native South Americans had great knowledge about many things but they never build a ship.

9. What they used were canoes from totora (a reed) to navigate the sea shore on the Peruvian coast and in the Titicaca Lake. People’s opinions were that Heyerdahl and his expedition was not going to be able to cross the Pacific Ocean without a good vessel.

10. The people’s opinion was that it was too risky and that they were going to disappear trying to prove it.

11. Heyerdahl knew the possible risks that they were going to face but on the other hand he was convinced that ancient, native South Americans completed this trip facing the same risks.

13. Heyerdahl knew that native South Americans didn’t have vessels, but they had rafts. • Heyerdahl saw raft drawings in the ancient Peruvian temples. These rafts were built with strong balsa logs and had a square sail and a small cabin on top.

14. As Heyerdahl had decided to demonstrate that it was possible to cross the Pacific Ocean on a raft, he decided to build a raft for the expedition. He got economic help for the project and 5 determined men to sail with him.

15. The balsa logs were joined using vegetable rope, as the ancient people didn’t use nails. The only protection for the sailors was the small cabin on the top of the raft. They named the raft Kon-Tiki and on April 28, 1947, the expedition departed from the Peruvian port called Tucume.

16. For several days the Kon-Tiki sailed softly on the sea following the rhythm of the water. But, a few days after they departed, the Kon-Tiki was caught by a strong storm. The sailors tried to control the movements of the sail, but the winds and the waves were stronger than they, so they decided not to fight against nature anymore.

17. While thinking that this was the end and they were going to drown, they found the contrary happened. When the sail of the Kon-Tiki was free to move with the winds, the raft begins to glide on the waves.

18. After this experience, the sailors knew that the Kon-Tiki was prepared to face strong storms, and that the raft was strong enough to lead them to their destiny.

19. Almost 4 months after their departure from the South American Coast, the expedition arrived at Eastern Island, on August 07, 1947. They navigated for 101 days and 4,300 miles.

21. The Kon-Tiki expedition created great expectations around the world. The press was waiting for news regarding the happenings of the expedition.

22. The only modern equipment that Heyerdahl and his crew members had was a radio and their watches.

23. The Kon-Tiki expedition created great expectations around the world. The press was waiting for news regarding the happenings of the expedition.

24. The book Kon-Tiki became a best seller and the documentary about the Kon-Tiki expedition won an Oscar in 1951.

30. 1) What kind of ship were used by Thor Heyerdahl to navigate from South • America to Polynesia? • boat • ship • raft • canoe • 2) Thor Heyerdahl departures from what port on the Kon Tiki? • Palos • Valparaiso • Talara • Tucume • 3) What sea navigated Thor Heyerdahl on the Kon Tiki? • a) Indic Ocean • b) Atlantic Ocean • c) Mediterránea sea • d) Pacific Ocean

31. 4)Thor Heyerdahl arrived at what island after 101 days navigating? • a)Hawai • b) Contadora • c) Bahamas • d) Eastern Island • 5) From what culture took Heyerdahl the idea of using a raft to cross the • Pacific Ocean? • a) from the Egipcians • b) from the Mayas • c) from the Incas • d) from the Aztecas • 6) What was Thor Heyerdahl trying to proof with this journey? • a) The relationship between the Incas and the • Polynesians. • b) The existence of gold in the Easter Island. • c) The theory that the Earth is round. • d) The relation of the Europeans and the Polynesian • native.