The Other Spot

Lost in the deep silence of the Pacific Ocean, lies the island of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, from 117 m2 to nearly 2,000 kms. of Polynesia and more than 3,700 km, Chile, their sovereign country. Only curiosity can lead us to this place lost a volcanic island, no trees, no other interest than the famous Moai statues, stone sculptures that dominate its landscape, sad, undaunted by time, and mysterious. Continuously since Jacob Roggeveen in 1722 discovered the Europeans to their lands anthropologists approach with the firm intention of finding out why your home … and yet remain on any theory of myths, legends of the island, almost superstition.

These moai are part of the Rapa Nui National Park since 1935. Their impressive silhouettes can be found in better shape or worse, throughout the island, to count a number nearly 1,000 sculptures, carved in volcanic tuff brought from the quarries of Rano Raraku. The one who is better is the Ahu Tahal, located in the capital of the island, Hanga Roa. The Ahu Te Pito Kura has a round stone on his head made of red scoria quarry of Puna Pau. As with the entire history of these monuments it is not known for sure why some have this “touched” and others not, but the most accepted is that they represent a bun or a hat that had the Indians when Europeans arrived. Ahu Vinapu and sculptures are curiously Akahanga are lying …

And if Roggeveen was officially discoverer, the most popular theories are that Thor Heyerdahl made his expedition from the island in 1955. His hypothesis is based on the Andean origin of its first settlers, against the most widespread theories that its origin is Polynesian. However, around the giant sculptures there are still many mysteries as no one was able to determine how those Indians were extinct, or were able to transport and construct similar statues that can reach 10 meters in height, 7.5 meters in diameter and weighing nearly 20 tons and a length that could be traced back to centuries IV or V AC.

And if touring the island is not only there to stop visiting the capital, Hanga Roa or volcano Ranu Raraku but Orongo, where there is an important ceremonial center, Ana Katenga, a series of caves that open to the cliffs of the island, and, above all, Anakena, the biggest beach of the island with coconut trees and water blue-green, where you get one of the most famous photographs that can be obtained from the island of Rapa Nui : the Ahu Nau Nau, a set of seven moai together along the coast, overlooking the sea.