Culture,Immovable Culture Heritage,Tourism
Much has been written about what is considered "the most island island", due to its remote location in the Pacific Ocean. The gigantic volcanic stone statues, known as moai, the still undeciphered writing of the Rongo Rongo symbols, and the history of some inhabitants who were about to disappear, have originated the myth of Easter Island. The island was discovered on Easter Sunday in 1722, and taken over by Chile in 1888. Its fame and World Heritage status arise from the 887 extant stone statues known by the name "moai", whose creation is attributed to the early Rapa Nui people who inhabited the island around 300 AD. The moai in the park are of varying height from 2 to 20 meters (6 to 65 ft). The volcanic rock formations quarried for sculpting are a distinctive yellow-brown volcanic tuff found only at the Ranu Raraku on the southeast side of the island. Some of the moai were also carved from red scoria. The ceremonial shrines where they are erected for offering worship are known as "ahu". Of impressive size and form, they are normally built close to the coast and parallel to it.