Early Polynesian Navigation

This week we have been learning about the early Polynesian navigation. They used lots of things to navigate the world. 

Early Polynesian Navigation

Have you ever seen a Polynesian voyager or wayfinder? The Polynesian wayfinders navagated with clouds, water or swells, birds, the sun was their compass, and stars. The voyagers were relying on canoes to guide them to where they wanted to go. When they knew when to go it was when the sun rose in the east and west.

Sunset and Sunrise made it possible to see ocean swells.

The wayfinders look at swells when the suns out. That made it possible to navigate the world.

The wayfinders navigated the pacific ocean using sun + moon, fish, clouds, ocean swells, and birds.

Birds were near land as they had a 190km range of flight pattern and flew back to shore.

Clouds reflected islands or lagoons. Big groups of clouds could tell their direction. They told where there were islands.

The wayfinders used the sun to tell them when to find the ocean swells, they hunt and find swells when the sun comes up in the east, and when it goes down in the west. They know when to not navigate and rest.They also used clouds, birds, ocean swells, and stars.