Easter Island

[minisoji]

It is one of the most isolated islands in the world but 1200 years ago a double-hulled canoe filled with seafarers from a distant culture landed upon its shores. Over the centuries that followed a remarkable society developed in isolation on the island. For reasons still unknown they began carving giant statues out of volcanic rock. These monuments, known, as "moai" are some of the most incredible ancient relics ever discovered. The people of Easter Island called themselves the Rapa Nui. Where did they come from and why did they disappear? Science has learned much about the enigma of Easter Island and has put to rest some of the more bizarre theories, but questions and controversies remain.

[Ted]

NEAT. I want to go there ;o xD?

[smitha]

Where is this Easter Island?Want to know more about it.

[Perfection]

Easter Island

Capital - Hanga Roa
Location - 27°9′S, 109°25.5′W
Official languages - Spanish, Rapa Nui
Government - Provincial governor
Annexation to Chile - Treaty signed in September 9, 1888
Area - Total 163.6 km²
Population - 3,791 by 2002 census
Population Density - 23.17 /km²
Time zone - Central Time Zone (UTC-6)
Calling code - +32

Location

Located 3,600 km (2,237 statute miles) west of continental Chile and 2,075 km east of Pitcairn Island, Easter Island is one of the most isolated inhabited islands in the world. It is situated at 27°09′S, 109°27′W, with a latitude close to that of the Chilean city of Caldera, north of Santiago.

Easter is made up of three volcanoes : Poike, Rano Kau, and Terevaka. Administratively, it is a province (containing a single municipality) of the Chilean ValparaÃÂ*so Region. The standard time is six hours behind UTC (UTC-6) (five hours behind including one hour of daylight saving time).

[Perfection]

Easter Island (Rapa Nui in Tahitian and today also in Rapa Nui language, Isla de Pascua in Spanish) is an island in the south Pacific Ocean belonging to Chile. The island is famous for its numerous moai, the stone statues located along the coastlines.
Easter Island was given its common name of "Easter" because the first recorded European visit, by the Dutch Admiral Jacob Roggeveen, was on Easter Sunday, The island's official Spanish name, Isla de Pascua, is a direct translation of "Easter Island".

The current Polynesian name of the island, Rapa Nui or "Big Rapa", was coined by labor immigrants from Rapa in the Bass Islands, who likened it to their home island in the aftermath of the Peruvian slave deportations in the 1870s. However, Thor Heyerdahl has claimed that the naming would have been just the opposite, Rapa being the original name of Easter Island and Rapa Iti named by its refugees.

There are several options for the "original" Polynesian name for Easter Island. Most often mentioned is Te pito o te henua, or the "The Navel of the World" due to its isolation. Legends claim that the island was first named as Te pito o te kainga a Hau Maka, or the "Little piece of land of Hau Maka".

[Perfection]

Why people are interested to visit remote and isolated places where there is no facility exists ?.

What they really get in such a travel where there is no hotels for food and accomodation, insufficient transportation facility, inhospitable conditions, different language speaking people and lot more to face.

Suggestions requested.

[Perfection]

Easter Island attractions

Rano Raraku, Easter Island

The island's famous moai statues were carved from the volcanic rock of this mountain and are scattered across its slopes in various stages of completion. Attraction type: Volcano, Ancient ruins, Landmark

Rapa Nui National Park, Easter Island

The landscape of Rapa Nui, the indigenous name for Easter Island, is an eerie exhibit of ancient cultural remnants of an abandoned desert-dwelling people. Attraction type: National park.

Ahu Tongariki, Easter Island

15 of the island's famous moai statues stand here in a military lineup upon a flat rock platform. Attraction type: Ancient ruins, Landmark.

Orongo, Easter Island

This lake-filled crater is filled with remnants of the Birdman cult practiced until 1867. Attraction type: Geological formation, Historic site, Lake.

Rano Kau, Easter Island

A hike to the summit of this 400m volcano offers panoramic views of the island's solitude in the South Pacific. Attraction type: Volcano.

[Eek]

What is wrong with the easter islands ? people want to go there for what ? this is weird

[adc-oil]

Very interesting place. I saw some pictures and it looks like a beautiful place!