Chile : Easter Island

Easter Island

Š Bruno BARBIER / hemis.fr

Feature

Chile :

Easter Island (or Rapa Nui) is one of the world’s great archaeological sites, and also one of the most remote. The nearest inhabited island is tiny Pitcairn, over 1,931 kilometers to the west.

Rapa Nui is almost 4,023 kilometers from the coast of South America and, in the other direction, 3,219 kilometers to Tahiti. Its isolation is one of the key factors affecting the culture that evolved here.

There has been much controversy and confusion concerning the origins of the Easter Islanders. Thor Heyerdahl proposed that the people who built the statues were of Peruvian descent, due to a similarity between Rapa Nui and Incan stonework. Non scientist have suggested that Easter Island is the remnant of a lost continent, or the result of an extra-terrestrial influence . Archaeological evidence, however, indicates discovery of the island by Polynesians at about 400 AD - led, according to legend, by Hotu Matua. Upon their arrival, an impressive and enigmatic culture began to develop.

In addition to the statues, the islanders possessed the Rongorongo script; the only written language in Oceania. The island is also home to many petroglyphs (rock carvings), as well as traditional wood carvings, tapa (barkcloth) crafts, tattooing, string figures, dance and music.

Easter is made up of three volcanoes: Poike, Rano Kau and Terevaka. The island is famous for its numerous moai, the stone statues now located along the coastlines. Administratively, it is a province (containing a single municipality) of the Chilean ValparaĂ­so Region.

Due to its extreme geographic isolation, many people assume that travel to Easter Island is limited to extremely intrepid travelers. In fact, tourism is the main industry of the island. The only regular flights are via LAN Chile airlines.

HEMIS_159431 : Chile, Easter Island, overview of Rano Raraku from south coast

HEMIS_159349 Chile, Easter Island, Rano Raraku, a volcanic crater formed of consolidated ash (Tuf) and a quarry from which nearly the entire island's known Moai sculpture was carved

HEMIS_159384 Chile, Easter Island, on the north shore, Anakena, palmtrees on the beach

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Chile, Easter Island, on the north shore, statues at Ahu Nau Nau still sport their red headdress, known as Pukao

Chile, Easter Island, Ahu Akivi, western part of the island, its seven Moai were raised and restored in the 1950's

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Chile, Easter Island, Rano Raraku is a volcanic crater formed of consolidated ash or Tuf. It is the quarry in which about 95% of the island's known sculpture Moai were carved

Chile, Easter Island, Rano Raraku is a volcanic crater formed of consolidated ash or Tuf. It is the quarry in which about 95% of the island's known sculpture Moai were carved

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Chile, Easter Island, Rano Raraku is a volcanic crater formed of consolidated ash or Tuf. It is the quarry in which about 95% of the island's known sculpture (Moai) were carved

Chile, Easter Island, a freshwater lake bordered by reeds called tortora. Rano Raraku is a volcanic crater formed of consolidated ash, or Tuf. it is the quarry in which about 95% of the island's known sculpture Moai were carved

HEMIS_159362 : Chile, Easter Island, Rano Raraku is a volcanic crater formed of consolidated ash or Tuf. It is the quarry in which about 95% of the island's known sculpture (Moai) were carved

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Chile, Easter Island, Ahu Tongariki, Fifteen huge Moai stand with their backs to the ocean, This Ahu was restored by archaeologists after it was completely destroyed in 1960 by a massive tidal wave

Chile, Easter Island, Ahu Tongariki. Fifteen huge Moai stand with their backs to the ocean. This Ahu was restored by archaeologists after it was completely destroyed in 1960 by a massive tidal wave

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Chile, Easter Island, Ahu Tongariki. Fifteen huge Moai stand with their backs to the ocean. This Ahu was restored by archaeologists after it was completely destroyed in 1960 by a massive tidal wave

Chile, Easter Island, Ahu Tongariki. Fifteen huge Moai stand with their backs to the ocean. This Ahu was restored by archaeologists after it was completely destroyed in 1960 by a massive tidal wave

HEMIS_159385 Chile, Easter Island, on the north shore, Anakena, pink-sand beach

HEMIS_159387 Chile, Easter Island, on the north shore, Anakena, pink-sand beach

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Chile, Easter Island, mount Terevaka, the highest point on the island, lies 511 meters above sea level. There are some 70 volcanic places on the island

Chile, Easter Island, mount Terevaka, the highest point on the island, lies 511 meters above sea level. There are some 70 volcanic places on the island

HEMIS_159375 : Chile, Easter Island, Ahu Tongariki. Fifteen huge Moai stand with their backs to the ocean. This Ahu was restored by archaeologists after it was completely destroyed in 1960 by a massive tidal wave

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Chile, Easter Island, mount Terevaka, the highest point on the island, lies 511 meters above sea level. There are some 70 volcanic places on the island

Chile, Easter Island, mount Terevaka, the highest point on the island, lies 511 meters above sea level. There are some 70 volcanic places on the island

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Chile, Easter Island, mount Terevaka, highest point on the island, lies 511 meters above sea level. There are some 70 volcanic places on the island

Chile, Easter Island, Ahu Te Pito Kura is a perfectly round big stone named by the old Rapa Nui inhabitants uterus of the planet

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Chile, Easter Island, Hanga Ho'Onu (or La Pérouse bay), place on the north coast where La Pérouse landed in 1786

Chile, Easter Island, Hanga Ho'Onu (or La Pérouse bay), place on the north coast where La Pérouse landed in 1787

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Chile, Easter Island, Hanga Ho'Onu (or La Pérouse bay), place on the north coast where La Pérouse landed in 1786

Chile, Easter Island, Ahu Tahira is the key element in the theory that the islanders came sailing from south america, since it is built with perfectly carved and fitted stone blocks, strikingly similar to the work of the Tiahuanaco culture (Bolivia) and the Inca walls in Peru

HEMIS_159416 : Chile, Easter Island, Ahu Tongariki, Fifteen huge Moai stand with their backs to the ocean, This Ahu was restored by archaeologists after it was completely destroyed in 1960 by a massive tidal wave

HEMIS_159417 Chile, Easter Island, Hanga Roa city, mass at roman catholic church

HEMIS_159420 Chile, Easter Island, Hanga Roa city, soccer game

HEMIS_159419 Chile, Easter Island, Hanga Roa city, cemetery

HEMIS_159421 Chile, Easter Island, Hanga Roa city, the market

HEMIS_159424 Chile, Easter Island, Hanga Roa city, local handicrafts

HEMIS_159427 Chile, Easter Island, west coast

HEMIS_159425 Chile, Easter Island, Hanga Roa city, the main avenue, Avenida Policarpo Toro

HEMIS_159429 Chile, Easter Island, overview of Rano Raraku from south coast

HEMIS_159426 : Chile, Easter Island, Hanga Roa city, the main avenue, Avenida Policarpo Toro

HEMIS_159432 Chile, Easter Island, north coast

HEMIS_159433 Chile, Easter Island, west coast

HEMIS_159437 Chile, Easter Island, Ahu Tahira site

HEMIS_159440 Chile, Easter Island, old Rapa Nui tomb