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Prominent oceanographer Thor Heyerdahl Jr., the son of the famous Norwegian scientist and traveler - Thor Heyerdahl - during his visit to Armenia learnt about the ancient cultural heritage of Armenians, met the officials of the country and his Armenian colleagues.
During the official meeting with the Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan, an agreement was reached to hold days of Thor Heyerdahl in Yerevan, during which lectures, presentation of Heyerdahl’s book and official screening of the film on the expedition of "Kon-Tiki" were to be organized. The meeting was attended also by the chairman of Pan-Armenian Geographical Association Rafael Hovhannisyan, who will shortly present a film about the famous Norwegians.

In his turn Thor Heyerdahl Jr. noted that the he know about Armenia from the books of F. Nansen, who is an example for every Norwegian. It is noteworthy that the next stop of the tour the Foundation after Fridtjof Nansen, where a meeting was held with Felix Bakhchinyan – the head of the Foundation. He, on behalf of the Foundation, gave the museum "Kon-Tiki" a rare Armenian book which had the same name published in the USSR. Despite the fact that the book "Kon-Tiki" has been translated into dozens of languages there had not been such a rare copy in the museum yet.

Another important point in the journey of the famous Norwegian was a visit to the Memorial in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. He also got acquainted with the exposition of the Museum-Institute of Armenian Genocide. "I heard about the Armenian Genocide, but could not imagine its scope. I am stunned by what I saw," said T. Heyerdahl Jr.
During the meeting with the Armenian scientists in the unique atmosphere of the museum of Sergei Parajanov a discussed was held on scientific issues. The discussions were held in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Thor Heyerdahl Jr. got acquainted with the Armenian culture, architecture and history during his visit to Matenadaran, to the pagan temple of Garni, early medieval Monastery of Geghard, the ruins of Zvartnots Temple and History Museum in Yerevan.

The famous Norwegian traveler shared his knowledge and memories with the students of YSLU in the frameworks of an entertaining lecture. He admitted that, as an oceanographer, for the second time in his life he is in a landlocked country and which is completely surrounded by land.

"We will build bridges of friendship and cooperation between Armenia and Norway, and I will fully support it," said T. Heyerdahl Jr.
Thor Heyerdahl Jr. is on a visit to Armenia on the initiative of the Armenian Embassy in Denmark and Norway, with the assistance of the Ministry of Culture and at the invitation of the charity fund "Vahagn and Hasmik Hovnanians.