Kon-Tiki Museum, Oslo

The Kon-Tiki Museum, located on the Bygdøy peninsula in Oslo, Norway, is a monument to one of the most incredible sea voyages of the 20th century. The museum is dedicated to the legendary expeditions of Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl, who sailed across vast oceans on balsa wood rafts to demonstrate the possibilities of ancient sea travel and cultural interconnections.

One of the main attractions of the museum is the original Kon-Tiki raft, which in 1947 carried Heyerdahl and his crew over 6,900 kilometers across the Pacific Ocean from South America to the Polynesian islands. This daring journey was an attempt to prove that people from South America could have settled in Polynesia in pre-Columbian times. The museum also houses the Ra II, another raft that successfully sailed from Morocco to Barbados in 1970, further supporting Heyerdahl's theories of early transoceanic contact.

The museum showcases various exhibits related to Heyerdahl's expeditions, including a library with about 8000 books, personal artifacts, maps, and documentary photographs, providing a comprehensive look into the explorer's life and work. Visitors can also learn about Heyerdahl's archaeological expeditions to Easter Island, Galápagos, and Túcume in Peru, where he investigated ancient civilizations and their mysteries.

The Kon-Tiki Museum is not only a celebration of Thor Heyerdahl's adventurous spirit but also a testament to human ingenuity and the quest for knowledge. It offers an educational and inspiring experience for visitors of all ages, who can delve into the history of exploration and the cultural links that bind distant societies together.