What is Aikavaellus?

Aikavaellus, sometimes called Time Trek in English, is a collection of hiking trails (urban and nature) that reflect the age of the universe, in scale. The length of the trails is 1.38 or 13.8 kilometers, thus translating every traveled meter into 10-1 million years of cosmic history. Along the hiking trails, Aikavaellus has erected signs that explain the ‘current’ event seen by the traveler. Aikavaellus is maintained by the Aikavaellus association.

About the concept

In the grand tapestry of existence, the universe stretches out in all directions, an unfathomable expanse of space and time. Our own planet, with its bustling life, is but a minuscule speck within this cosmic ocean. When we gaze at the night sky, we glimpse at history itself. The light from distant stars and galaxies travels billions of years before reaching our eyes. Thus, we are not seeing the universe as it is but as it was—a cosmic time machine revealing ancient secrets.

Time, on the other hand, is an ever-advancing sequence of moments, a river flowing from the past into the future. Yet, within the grand framework of the universe, time is far more intricate and enigmatic than our everyday experiences suggest. Understanding time requires us to delve into the realms of physics, philosophy, and even the limits of human perception.

To put time into perspective, imagine the entire history of the universe condensed into a finite distance with the Big Bang located at the beginning. If the said distance was to be 13.8 kilometers, you would encounter the solar system at the 9.23-kilometer mark. Respectively, dinosaurs would emerge at the 13.578 kilometers and us humans at the very end (at least in this timescale).

Contact

If you are interested in Aikavaellus and would like to obtain more information, the easiest way to reach us is through email (info@aikavaellus.fi).