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Easter Island or "Rapa Nui",
owes its origin to three volcanoes which erupted some three million
years ago: Poike, Rano Kau and Maunga Terevaka. On the island there
are also more than 70 craters which, combined with the volcanoes,
give shape to this island, exhibiting low, rolling hills and beautiful
extinct volcanoes.
There are two strong theories concerning the original Easter Island
settlers. One theory is that its first inhabitants came from Polynesia
and arrived on the island around 4 A.D. The other theory suggests
a South American origin, an idea which came about due to the similarities
found between Andean and Pascuen construction.
From its very settlement, the culture
of the island developed isolated from the rest of the world until
it was discovered in 1722 by a Dutchman, on the day of Resurrection.
During its isolation, the habitants of Rapa Nui developed a complex
culture which in many aspects continues to be shrouded in mystery.
Inside the boundaries of the park you
can find most of the interesting archeological sites of the island:
the ceremonial village of Orongo, the Rano Raraku quarries, the
Rano Kau volcano crater, the Puna Pau or the Ahu Akivi quarry, to
mention a few.
NATURAL
HERITAGE
Rapa Nui is a triangular-shaped island
of volcanic origin, created by the action of three main volcanoes:
Terevaka, Katiki and Rano Kau. The island is actually the peak of
an enormous submerged mountain with a circumference at its base
of 200 kilometers (125 mi) and around 4000 meters (13,120 ft) in
altitude.
The topography of the island is undulating,
with smooth slopes and numerous volcanic cones, distributed across
its surface.
On the island there is no surface running
water and the underground water sources are found at a medium depth.
The only three surface water deposits are on the Rano Aroi, Rano
Kau and Rano Raraku.
Flora and vegetation on the island
is scarce. In the prairies you can find Giant Rat's Tail Grass and
koda millett, accompanied by shrubs of tropical guava, wild sunhemp,
and bush lupine. As well as this, there are some forests where the
predominant varieties are Eucalyptus, Mellia azedarach and silk
trees.
The native species are concentrated
in some places, one of these is the crater of the Rano Kau volcano
where you can see mako'l, mahute, ngaoho, hau
hau and some ferns. In some places of Hanga Roa and in the vicinity
of CONAF there are toromiro, an endemic species which CONAF
is trying to reintroduce.
HISTORICAL
OR CULTURAL HERITAGE
Most of the sculptural and architectural
manifestations of Rapa Nui are within the park's boundaries, for
example, the statues (Moai), ceremonial altars (ahu) and manifestations
of rupestrian art, etc. All this wealth constitutes a unique archeological
heritage which turn this park into an extraordinary outdoor museum.
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