Did you know this about the mysterious Easter Island?
The Chilean Easter Island rests in the eastern Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Chile. This little island may be small, but the stories (and head statues) it holds are big. So, why does this tiny isolated island attract tens of thousands of visitors every year? These interesting facts about this mystical island will give you a look into the reason why historians and travelers alike want to explore this unique destination.
7. Easter Island was discovered on Easter
Where did the name come from? Indeed, Christmas Island also exists, so of course, it makes sense to have Easter Island, right? Not very many places are named after holidays, which makes the name of the island quite interesting. The name of the island comes from the day on which it was discovered, Easter Sunday. On this day in 1722 Dutch explorer, Jacob Roggeveen was the first known visitor of the Island. That got us thinking… why isn’t there a Thanksgiving Island yet?
6. No one knows how the heads were moved
You have probably seen pictures of the massive Easter Island heads, the most photographed landmarks of the island. In fact, you will find out soon that these statues are not just heads… However, what is mysterious about this is that no one actually knows how these statues or ‘moai’ were moved. Take note that the weight of one of these statues is about 14 tons. In 1000 C.E. when it is thought that the statues were carved, 14 tons is no joke to start transporting. What’s your best solution to this mystery?
5. The Easter Island heads are not just heads…
The statues on the island also have bodies, but most have been submerged in the earth over time. The carvings on the bodies of the statues are also pretty impressive. Considering there are up to 1000 of these statues, the carving work was not done overnight. It is estimated that carving one statue would have taken 12-15 months if done by six workers and an additional 90 days for transporting the statue. That’s some dedication! This dedication was honored by the naming of Easter Island as a World Heritage Site in 1995. A well-deserved badge, don’t you think?
4. The moai represent Rapa Nui ancestors
Rapa Nui is the name given to the island by its indigenous people. These massive statues are believed to represent the worshipped ancestors of Rapa Nui, such as chiefs or other highly ranked males. The moai symbolize the protection of the island by all looking inward with their backs to the sea. However, there are 7 statues that fact out to sea to help travelers find their way to the island.
The biggest statue on the island is named “The Giant” with a height of approximately 21.6 meters. That alone is almost a reason to head to Easter Island- how impressive!
3. Someone has tried stealing a part of a moai statue… and it didn’t go over well!
A Finnish tourist attempted stealing the ear of one of the moai statues in 2008. It turns out, this didn’t end up being a very good idea. Marko Kulju most probably regretted his decision though, because he was fined 17,000 USD for the act. However, the punishment could have been much greater. In fact, he was facing a punishment of up to 7 years in prison. So, the next time you think you want to steal an ear from Easter Island… think again!
2. The Rano Raraku quarry supplied the stone for building the statues
Thousands of visitors go to admire the Rano Raraku quarry every year. This quarry serves as the supplier for most of the stone used to build the statues on the island. And yes, that is a lot of stone, as you might guess. The island also has a total of three extinct volcanoes, the tallest one being about 510 meters tall.
1. One of the statues is… unique
Most of the statues have relatively similar elongated features, except for one. We appreciate this fella of ours for adding some diversity into the mix. The name of the statue is Tukuturi, and he is much shorter than his other stone friends. Not only that, but he also has very distinct characteristics from the others, like a human-like head combined with a small beard. Tukuturi is also made from a different material. The position of this statue is also very interesting, as it can be found kneeling with a hand on its knees. We don’t know what’s up with Tukuturi, but you do you!
We hope that you enjoyed following along with these fun and interesting facts about the mysterious Easter Island. An adventure to this isolated place would certainly make for a unique adventure. Find travel mates at JoinMyTrip to start exploring fascinating places, or lead a trip like this yourself! There are many good reasons to become a trip leader, in case you’re wondering :).
