Easter Island

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Why
Easter Island
is special

Easter Island is noted for its stone human statues (called "moai") carved from volcanic rock.

Easter Island

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Moai count

The moai number nearly 1000 and dot the hillsides above the rocky shores.

Largest

The biggest standing moai is 10 meters (33 feet) tall. An unfinished moai in the quarry is over twice that length and would have weighed about 135,000 kilograms (150 tons).

Purpose

The moai's purpose is a mystery. The most popular theories say they depict gods or ancestors.

Remote

Few places are as remote as Easter Island. It is about 3000 kilometers (2000 miles) away from the two nearest population hubs: Tahiti (to the west) and Chile (east). Geographically, it's in the South Pacific.

First inhabitants

Experts are now fairly certain that Rapa Nui (as the locals call Easter Island) was inhabited by seafaring Polynesians around 400 AD. The Easter Island culture slowly evolved and peaked around 1400 AD.

Decline

At the time of its cultural peak, tiny Easter Island became over populated. To meet short term needs, the people committed conservational suicide by denuding the landscape of trees that future generations would need for fuel, boats and buildings. The topsoil soon eroded, the economy collapsed, civil war ensued and moai sculpting abruptly halted.

Other Polynesia

medal winners

Use the clickable "Polynesia Triangle" map below to learn about the other Hillman Wonder medal winners in Polynesia.

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