The Easter Island is located in the southern region of the Pacific Ocean. The closest land mass near the Easter Island is Chile, which is some 2,000 miles away. It was christened by Admiral Jacob Roggeveen and fall within the Chilean domain. Keep surfing Mapsofworld for more information and choices on Islands around the world and also other places.
The Easter Island is a triangular volcanic outgrowth standing in isolation in the Pacific Ocean. The island also has several local names. It is sometimes called the “ Isla de Pascua ” and is also referred to as the “ Rapa Nui ”. “ Rapanui ” is also the name given to the natives of the island and their language. However, the natives of the island had a different term for the island. They referred to the island as ‘the navel of the world' or, in their native tongue, “ Te Pito O Te Henua ”. It was finally named as Easter Island as it was ‘discovered' on the day of Easter. The Easter Island's claim to fame rests on the numerous monolithic ‘ Moai ' statues made of volcanic rock that skirt the island's coast and the mystery that wraps them.
Gaining access to the island is not a difficult issue, with several flight services plying from Tahiti and Chile. There are also several companies who conduct tour operations and offer tour packages which visitors to the island will find quite convenient. There are plenty of things to see on the island as the Easter Island is dominated by a rich traditional and cultural heritage. From crafts to monuments, this small island has it all. Till today, the islanders celebrate the “ Tapati ” festival, which is a remnant of the ancient traditional Rapanui festival. A unique thing on the island is the open air museum of Moai statues and other remnants. Some of them are: Rano Raraku , Ahu Tongariki , Ahu Vinapu , Ahu Akivi , Ahu Naunau , Ahu Tahai and Orongo .
The Easter Island once featured a unique ecological trait: the subtropical broadleaf forests. This is now lost due to volcanic activity. Avian and marine life abounds in and around the Easter Island; though, avian life is mainly restricted to the sea-faring species. The flora in the island is pretty much next to nothing except grasslands. The original Polynesian natives, foreign explorers and volcanic activity have conjointly succeeded in eradicating all existing flora and fauna in the world's worst known ‘ecocide'.
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