Easter Island

About

Easter Island, a special territory of Chile, is renowned for its enigmatic Moai statues and its remote location in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. The island is approximately 24.6 km long and 12.3 km wide, forming a triangular shape. It is composed of three extinct volcanoes: Terevaka, Poike, and Rano Kau, which give it its unique geography. Easter Island is one of the most isolated inhabited islands globally, with its closest inhabited neighbor being Pitcairn Island, over 1,900 km away. The Moai statues, crafted between 1400 and 1650 AD, are a testament to the island's rich cultural heritage. These colossal figures were carved from volcanic tuff at Rano Raraku and placed on platforms called ahu to honor ancestral chiefs. The island's sub-tropical climate and volcanic landscape make it a fascinating destination. Easter Island was named by the Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen, who discovered it on Easter Sunday in 1722. Today, it is known as Rapa Nui by its inhabitants, reflecting its Polynesian roots and history.