Easter Island Rapa Nui in Chile1

Easter Island (officially Isla de Pacua) is located in the South Pacific Ocean,

about 2200 mi (3500 km) west of mainland Chile (South America). The island is of great archaeological importance and is famous worldwide with its nearly 600 large-head moai statues ("moai") gazing over the ocean. They vary in height from 10 to 40 ft (3 to 12 m) and are carved from volcanic rock.

 

Discovered by the Dutch in 1722, Easter Island was first named Paaseiland (translated as "Easter Island") and was taken over by Chile in 1888.

 

 

The island has a total area of 163,6 km2 (63,2 mi2) and population around 6,600. The nearest inhabited land is Pitcairn Island, at approx 2075 km (1290 mi) to the west. The nearest town is Rikitea (on Mangareva Island, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia, population around 500) located approx 2606 km (1620 mi) to the west.

 

Islanders are referred to as pascuense (in Spanish). However, it's common to refer to the members of the indigenous community as "Rapa Nui".

Easter Island Rapa Nui in Chile

 

 

 

Description

Easter Island, a Chilean territory, is a remote volcanic island in Polynesia. Its native name is Rapa Nui. It’s famed for archaeological sites, including nearly 900 monumental statues called moai, created by inhabitants during the 13th–16th centuries. The moai are carved human figures with oversize heads, often resting on massive stone pedestals called ahus. Ahu Tongariki has the largest group of upright moai. ― Google

 

Area: 163.6 km²

Population: 7,750 (2017)

Country Code: +56

Currency: Peso (CLP)

Driving side: right

Highest elevation: 507 m (1,663 ft)

Province: Isla de Pascua

 

 

Ahu Tongariki is the largest ahu on Easter Island. Its moais were toppled during the island's civil wars, and in the twentieth century the ahu was swept inland by a tsunami. It has since been restored and has fifteen moai, including one that weighs eighty-six tonnes, the heaviest ever erected on the island. 

Ahu Tongariki, the 15 moai statues

This white-sand beach with turquoise water is backed by a grove of palm trees & two ahus with moais. -

Rano Raraku is a volcanic crater formed of consolidated volcanic ash, or tuff, and located on the lower slopes of Terevaka in the Rapa Nui National Park on Easter Island in Chile.

Moai de Rapa Nui

 

Rapa Nui National Park is a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site located on Easter Island, Chile. Rapa Nui is the Polynesian name of Easter Island; its Spanish name is Isla de Pascua. The island is located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeastern extremity of the Polynesian Triangle.

 

 

 

After being knocked down by a tsunami in 1960, the 15 moai perched on Ahu Tongariki were restored a few decades later

RANO RARAKU - The moai statue quarry