Geography, population, climate and mysteries of Easter Island

Easter Island is a small piece of land, to which there are many questions. For example, how did people get there? How did he get his appearance? And many others. Easter Island has a lot of names. Known to all the name gave the Dutch, when they entered his land. Local call - Rapa Nui, or Te-Pito-o-te-henua, which in translation means "big paddle" and "navel of the universe."

Geography

It appeared as a result of the strongest volcanic eruption. And there are at least 70 of them on it. If you look at the outward appearance of Easter Island from above, it resembles a triangle that bathes the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The land (165.5 km²) is divided into uneven three zones. The big one belongs to the National Park. Next, the ownership of the National Forest Corporation. The local population uses only twenty km². This is the most remote island, the distance to the nearby land is more than 2 thousand km, it lacks a lot of vegetation (only a rare grass) and water bodies (water after rain gathers in old volcanic craters).

Population

The local population of Easter Island does not exceed two thousand people. Among them you can meet redskins, white and black people. The main activities are fishing and sheep breeding.

Climate

This piece of land is in the subtropics, and therefore summer there lasts all year round. Unlike other islands, it does not have long rains, but there are magnificent beaches. City

The only residential city of Easter Island is Hanga-Roa. This is where the tourist life begins and ends. It has an airport, an Internet center, hotels.

Puzzles

This land hides many secrets, almost everywhere there are caves, stone platforms, alleys in the form of gutters that go far into the ocean, signs on the stones. But many researchers are tormented and do not leave alone the most important mystery - statues. These idols (moai) are made of stone and have very different heights, ranging from 3 to 21 meters. Their weight varies from ten to twenty tons, and this is not the limit, there are colossi of forty and ninety tons. So came the glory to Easter Island, the statues made him famous throughout the world. After all, it is completely unclear who and how they were cut out? Or they were brought on water, but then why are they? Why such a strange look, and what does it mean? Their appearance is really "wonderful". Each has a large head with a huge extended chin, long ears and missing legs. Some statues have a headpiece in the form of a cap made of red stone. A raised sharp nose and a mockery on thin lips. Maybe moai represent the tribe that lived here? Some giants have a necklace cut out of stone, other tattoos made by a cutter. One giant has an entire face in small holes. What do these differences mean? But all the statues have one feature - their eyes are directed to the sky.

How to get there?

The road to Easter Island is laid by two routes:

• By plane, but tickets are not very cheap;
• The most popular is on a yacht. Excursions cover the most interesting places.