Easter Island

Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, represents the southern most island in the Polynesian chain of islands in the south pacific. It is located between Tahiti and South America and is a territory of the country Chile. Easter Island is probably known best for its large stone statues called Moai. These large statues date back to over 500 years ago. They range in size, but the biggest (complete one) is 33 feet tall and weighs in at 75 tons. Most people have actually seen these statues at some time or another in their life but usually do not know that they originated at Easter Island. They are very distinct in their markings and are all pretty much of the same image. The statue is mostly a head, which roughly translates into over three fifths of the body size, which has a heavy brow, distinctly large nose, and they are always placed facing inward into the islands interior. Almost all of these statues were once destroyed in what is believed to be a large tribal or clan war amongst the natives of the island. But since then, massive reconstruction has taken place and many of the statues have been renewed to their original condition. There is a lot of speculation about what the significance of the statues actually is. Some believe that they are a part of ancestral worship and represent old tribal leaders (hence the size and importance of the large head). But apart from that, many people just visit the island to merely get a glimpse of these magnificent relics of the past.