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]]>Sandy Beach
Easter Island is best known for its rocky coastline and you won’t stumble upon many sandy beaches here, but Anakena is one of the rare expectations. This white-sand beach with turquoise waters and a grove of palm trees will make you see Easter Island in a whole new light.
Moai Statues
Easter Island wouldn’t be the same without moai statues that you can find on its ground and Anakena is home to quite a few. Ahu-Ature is home to a single, larger statue, while several smaller ones are a part of Ahu Nao-Nao. However, two of them were broken and they look almost unrecognizable without their heads.
Ancient Legends
Not much is known about Anakena’s history, but there are many myths and legends surrounding its past. According to one of them, it was a landing place of Hotu Matu’a, the first settler of Easter Island, who led a two-canoe Polynesian settlement party to this island.
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]]>The first recorded European visitor, the Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen, reached the soil of this island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean in 1722. It was Easter Sunday when his crew dropped anchor here, and they celebrated the occasion by naming it Paasch-Eyland – Easter Island in the 18th-century Dutch.
This name has been widely accepted in the centuries to come, and the official Spanish name, Isla de Pascua, can also be translated as Easter Island. The current inhabitants also call it Rapa Nui (Big Rapa), but this name comes with a darker backstory.
This name first came in used during the slave raids of the early 1860s that took place on the island. The slavers confused it with another island named Rapa, due to their topographic resemblance, and the new name Rapa Nui was coined to avoid the confusion.
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]]>Easter Island
This UNESCO World Heritage site is famous for its enormous stone statues called ‘moai.’ Settled by Polynesians around 700 to 1100 AD, Europeans brought disease and slave trading in the 18th Century. One of the remotest inhabited islands in the world, Easter Island was annexed by Chile in 1888.
Tahaa
Situated in the French Polynesian Society Islands, Tahaa is surrounded by a coral reef and smells of heavenly vanilla all year ‘round. Also known for its beautiful pearls, Tahaa is an island-hoppers dream come true.
Rangiroa
Also part of French Polynesia, Rangiroa is a ring of coral surrounding a stunning blue lagoon that is one of the world’s top scuba destinations. The main villages of Tiputa and Avatoru also have craft centers and restaurants for you to visit.
Tikehau
With the highest density of fish in the lagoon of all the Tuamotu atolls, Tekhau boasts picture-perfect pink-and-white beaches that are perfect for diving, snorkeling, and boating.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhU73sPhDfu/?tagged=tikehau
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]]>Igazu Falls, Brazil
Igazu Falls are a series of 275 waterfalls. They are on the border between Brazil and Argentina, and you can admire the breathtaking views from either side.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BocqC68AXDm/
Machu Picchu, Peru
In the misty Andres Mountains, you’ll find the iconic site of Machu Picchu. It was built in the mid-15 century and abandoned in the early 16th century after the Spanish invasion.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqdNRTGFvKy/
Easter Island, Chile
Chile is home to one of the world’s most mysterious and beautiful landscapes, Easter Island. The 900 Moai statues, which are scattered across the island, are the most memorable feature of all.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqkQonililb/
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Salar de Uyni is over 4,000 square miles of salt flat. When it rains, the salt produces a mirror effect and the result is some extremely surreal and ethereal photos.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqZxvGXnRcL/
Galapagos Islands, Equador
The peaceful islands of Galapagos are filled with stunning landscapes and wonderful creatures, including plenty of giant tortoises.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqgNQw3lCTW/
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]]>The post Astonishing Facts You Didn’t Know About Easter Island appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>Easter Island is located in the Pacific Ocean and it is owned by Chile. It has a volcanic origin, and has no trees.
This beautiful, famous Island is the world’s least visited archaeological site.
The current name of the island isn’t its first. The oldest known names are “Te Pito o Te Henua” – the “Center of the World,” and “Mata-Ki-Te-Rani”- the “Eyes Looking at Heaven.”
Another known name of the island was “Rapa Nui,” meaning “Great Rapa,” which was given to it in the 1860’s by Tahitian sailors. They said that Easter Island reminded them of another island in Polynesia called “Rapa Iti” or “Little Rapa.”
The name we all know, the name it carries today, was given on Easter Sunday, April 5th 1722, by a Dutch sea captain Jacob Roggeveen.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh_6WZ3HQGz/?tagged=easterisland
The stone statues are called “moai.” The average height of “moai” statue is 14 feet and 6 inches, and it weighs 14 tons.
They once stood upon massive stone platforms called “ahu.”
Some of the statues wear red-stoned-hats.
The belief is that the stone statues were ritually prepared and used for religious purposes. More precisely, the stones had a magical spiritual essence.
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]]>Easter Isle is a true testament of a world heritage site, now protected to ensure its long existence. Visitors are able to visit the island in guided and much more conciensence ways in order to have the least degradative environmental and cultural impact on the island and its many wonders.
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