What is La Isla de Pascua known for?
Easter Island, Spanish Isla de Pascua, also called Rapa Nui, Chilean dependency in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is the easternmost outpost of the Polynesian island world. It is famous for its giant stone statues. Sculptures cut from volcanic rock, Easter Island.
Why is it called Isla de Pascua?
The name “Easter Island” was given by the island’s first recorded European visitor, the Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen, who encountered it on Easter Sunday (5 April) in 1722, while searching for “Davis Land”. The island’s official Spanish name, Isla de Pascua, also means “Easter Island”.
Why is Easter Island important to Chile?
Famous for the towering stone statues known as moai, the island of Rapa Nui holds immense cultural value to its native Rapa Nui clans, a society of Polynesian origin who arrived on the island around 400 A.D. With more than 100,000 visitors annually, tourism sustains the “Easter Island” economy—but management of tourism …
Who discovered Isla de Pascua?
Well, the island was discovered on Easter day (Sunday 6 April 1722) by the Dutch Admiral Jacob Roggeveen. Easter Island is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean about 3,700km from the Chilean Coast making it the most isolated inhabited island in the world.
How did the statues fall?
Statues getting toppled The most common theory to this is that the statues were overthrown in tribal warfare to humiliate the enemy. An argument for this is the fact that most statues have fallen forward with the face into the earth.
What language is spoken in Rapa Nui?
Rapa Nui or Rapanui (English: /ˌræpəˈnuːi/), also known as Pascuan (/ˈpæskjuən/) or Pascuense, is an Eastern Polynesian language of the Austronesian language family. It is spoken on the island of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island.
How did Easter Island become part of Chile?
Easter Island was annexed by Chile on 9 September 1888 by Policarpo Toro, by means of the “Treaty of Annexation of the island” (Tratado de Anexión de la isla), that the government of Chile signed with the Rapa Nui people.
How were moai moved?
Even specialized priests were known to move moai at the request of those who wanted them on their family land or ahu. Method: Tied statue on its back to a sledge (sled) made from a tree fork. 180 islanders pulled the statue using two parallel ropes tied to each side.
Why are the moai statues important?
Moai statues were built to honor chieftain or other important people who had passed away. They were placed on rectangular stone platforms called ahu, which are tombs for the people that the statues represented.
Where is Isla de Pascua?
It is called Isla de Pascua. Within the Polynesian Triangle, it is located at the southeasternmost point. The early Rapa Nui people had created 887 extant monumental statues in Easter Island. They are called moai. Rapa Nui National Park is established to protect many areas of island.
How was Easter Island annexed by Chile?
Easter Island was annexed by Chile on 9 September 1888 by Policarpo Toro by means of the “Treaty of Annexation of the Island” (Tratado de Anexión de la isla). Toro, representing the government of Chile, signed with Atamu Tekena, designated “King” by the Roman Catholic missionaries after the paramount chief and his heir had died.
How many people live on Easter Island Chile?
In 1888, Easter Island was annexed by Chile. The island earns the status as the special territory. The island is a home for 5,800 people according to the census in 2012. The descendant of aboriginal Rapa Nui accounts for 60 percent of them.
Where is Easter Island located in South America?
Coauthor of South America. Easter Island, Spanish Isla de Pascua, also called Rapa Nui, Chilean dependency in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is the easternmost outpost of the Polynesian island world. It is famous for its giant stone statues.