It is a small, triangular-shaped volcanic island. It is about 24 km in length and has a maximum width of about 12 km at its widest point.
The island comprises three extinct volcanoes, namely Terevaka, Poike, and Rano Kau.
It faces a tropical rainforest climate.
UNESCO named Easter Island a World Heritage Site on March 22, 1996, and major parts of the island have been protected under the Rapa Nui National Park.
What are Moai Statues?
Rapa Nui is famous for its large megalithic statues called moai.
They are shaped like large human heads and erected on stone pedestals.
They are famous for their carved heads and “Pukao,” a hat-like covering made from a soft red stone.
Some moai stand 40 feet tall and weigh 75 tonnes.
They were carved in volcanic stone at quarries and then moved to their current locations across the island.
Scholars believe the Rapa Nui people built the moai between the 13th and the 16th centuries and represented their revered ancestors.
Over 900 moai have been found on the island to date.
What do Moais represent?
They were built to honor chieftains or other important people who had passed away.
They were placed on rectangular stone platforms called ahu, which are tombs for the people that the statues represented.
The moais were intentionally made with different characteristics since they were intended to keep the appearance of the person they represented.
Dear Student,
You have still not entered your mailing address. Please enter the address where all the study materials will be sent to you. (If applicable).
