Thor Heyerdahl, world-renowned explorer, died on April 18, 2002, at the age of 87. He was best known for his famous Kon-Tiki voyage of 1947, in which he crossed the Pacific Ocean on a balsawood raft he had constructed himself, in order to prove his theory that South Americans were capable of having made the trip to Polynesia. He was born in Norway on October 6, 1914, where he attended college and graduated with a degree in zoology and geography. In the ensuing years, he carried out numerous voyages and expeditions around the world, including trips to the Galapagos Islands, Easter Island, and the Sahara Desert. His expeditions and journeys culminated in his around-the-world voyage between 1969 and 1970. He was awarded the Fridtjof Nansen Medal from the Norwegian Geographical Society, the Gold Medal from the Royal Norwegian Geographical Society, and the Patrons Gold Medal from the Royal Geographical Society. In 1969, he was also awarded the Dag Hammarskjöold Prize in honor of his life-long dedication to promoting international understanding and solidarity. Heyerdahl is survived by his wife and four children.