Easter Island (Rapa Nui)

On Easter Day in 1722, Dutch captain Jacob Roggeveen stumbled upon an island in the central Pacific Ocean. He was the first European to set foot on this secluded piece of land. Roggeveen noted it in his ship’s log as “Easter Island.”

Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, is an island in the Pacific Ocean in Chile, known for its giant stone statues.

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Video: Easter Island

Facts

  • Name and size: Easter Island is also known as Rapa Nui. Its area is about 162.5 square kilometers
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  • Location: The island lies at 27°S and 109°W. Politically, it is considered a territory of Chile. The nearest inhabited land is Pitcairn Island, 2000 km-plus to the west. Chile is 3700 km away, Tahiti is 4000 km away.
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  • Uniqueness: Easter Island is famous for its stone statues made of local volcanic tuff. Over 10 m tall, they weigh over 150 tons.
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