Easter+Island

 Easter Island Easter Island is located in the Southern Pacific Ocean and is famous for its enormous statues that were constructed hundreds of years ago. (Langdon, Robert) Easter Island has been controlled by Chile since 1888. (Steiger, Brad) It has unique geography, covering 63 square miles in a triangular shape, with three dormant volcanoes containing lakes that provide fresh water for the residents. It’s located about 2,300 miles west of Chile. (Langdon Robert) The main industries of this island are tourism and exporting wool. (Langdon Robert) It is believed that Easter Island was first inhabited by Polynesians around 900 – 1200 A.D. (Langdon, Robert) The early population formed the eminent statues called //moai. // Although it is unknown why these statues were built, it is possible that they were made to honor ancestors. There are more than 600 moai dotting the island. (Langdon, Robert) Most measure 11-20 feet tall and can weight up to 90 tons. These statues were carved from volcanic rock. (Langdon, Robert) These sculptures were impressive engineering feats and it is still unknown how they moved the heavy rock. A gory, violent battle was fought around 1680 between two groups living on the island. The victors destroyed many of the moai, but 15 have been restored to their original shape today. (Langdon, Robert) A Dutch guide, Jakob Roggeveen, founded Easter Island in 1722 on Easter Day. In 1862, slave ships from Peru captured over 1,500 Easter Islanders to work in plantations. All but 100 people died in Peru. Only 15 survivors returned to Easter Island. (Langdon, Robert) By the time Chile took control of the Island in 1888, the population was a mere 110 people. ("Detail Showing Five Moai Figures at Easter Island”) Since then, the population has soared, now filled with many Chileans.(Langdon, Robert)