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- Destinations
- South America
- Chile
- Easter Island
Easter Island
Rapa Nui, or 'Navel of the Earth' as the natives know it, is one
of the world's most isolated places, situated 2,361 miles (3,800km)
west of mainland Chile, halfway to Tahiti. Easter Island is
practically an open-air national park, protecting the
archaeological sites and Moai, the giant stone statues that the
island is famous for, which are scattered all over the landscape.
These figures stand at heights of up to 32 feet (10m) and are at
the centre of the island's magnetism.
There is still uncertainty as to the origins of the first people
on Easter Island, and the 12 centuries between their arrival in the
year 500 and the first European discoverers in 1722 remains one of
the world's great mysteries. Included among the archaeological
sites on the island is the Rano Raraku volcano where the moai were
cut from the volcanic rock. In a bizarre scene, over 600 figures
are scattered on the slopes of the volcano, some in the early
stages of development and still part of the rocky cliffs and others
partly buried or stacked in an irregular line. For years
researchers have puzzled over the method of construction and
transportation of these megaliths from the quarries inland to their
present day coastal positions. It is the mystery of the unknown
artisans and the intriguing remainder of their awe-inspiring work
that continues to draw researchers and tourists from around the
world today.
Aside from the mysterious statues, there are other interesting
attractions on Easter Island. Anakena Beach is a sandy white
crescent popular for bodysurfing, and and cuba diving and
snorkeling is possible near the islets of Motu Nui and Motu Iti.
There are also some fascinating and extensive cave systems to be
explored near Ana Kakenga.
Most of the island's 2,000 inhabitants live in the main town
Hanga Roa. It has accommodation, shops, restaurants and transport
as well as a museum on the Rapa Nui people and their history.
Information & Facts
Climate
Easter Island is characterised by a subtropical climate. Summers
are hot and humid while winters are relatively mild with heavy
rainfall. July and August are the coldest months, April is the
wettest and February is the hottest on average. Heavy rainfall and
thunderstorms frequently occur during the winter months of June to
August. Easter Island's temperature is moderated by the constant
sea winds which keep the weather cool and mild throughout the
year.
Language
The official language is Spanish.
Money
The local currency is the Chilean Peso (CLP), which is divided
into 100 centavos. Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club and to a lesser
extent, American Express, are accepted in most large shops and
hotels. Travellers cheques, particularly in US Dollars, are welcome
in major towns, where there are banks and
cambiosoffering currency exchange services. ATMs are
widely available.
Time
Mainland is GMT -4 (GMT -3 from October to March). Easter
Island is GMT -6 (GMT -5 from October to March).