Thor Heyerdahl was a Norwegian explorer and anthropologist, best known for his adventurous expeditions across the oceans. He gained fame for his 1947 voyage on the Kon-Tiki, a raft made of balsa wood, which he sailed from Peru to Polynesia. Heyerdahl's journey aimed to demonstrate that ancient people could have made long sea voyages and settled distant lands. In addition to the Kon-Tiki expedition, Heyerdahl conducted other notable voyages, including the Ra and Ra II expeditions, where he attempted to sail from North Africa to the Americas using reed boats. His work challenged conventional views on human migration and cultural exchange in ancient times.