InfoHub - Easter Island in 3 Dimensions (photo essay)

In July, 2000, I traveled to Easter Island. It had been in the back of my mind for a couple of years, but only seriously surfaced that year as a destination. In hindsight, it has been one of the most fantastic places I have ever visited. The island is phenomenally beautiful, I think, despite the deforestation that occurred centuries ago. It is volcanic in origin, and looks every bit the part. I love volcanic landscapes. To add to the mystery are the moai, a thousand heads carved over a thousand-year period by the people of Rapa Nui, as it is known in it's still spoken native tongue.

The role of volcanism in Easter Island's history is total. Like the

Hawaiian Islands, Easter Island is just the top of a rather large undersea mountain. It has not erupted in the recorded history of
human habitation of the island. The rocky coastlines are not friendly to boats or people, but the rock did lend itself to being carved into the
giant heads that now populate the island. Craters are all over the island. The volcanic rock on the east side of the island was suitable for carving
the large moai, while the redder volcanic rock in a fairly small crater near the town of Hanga Roa was used for the topknots. The large, well-formed
crater at the southwest tip of the island was largely ceremonial in nature. The external slopes had low-ceilinged dwellings dotting the side. The high point on the island is Maunga Terevaka, about 500m above sea level. From here you can see the rest of the island, in all it's vacant beauty.

http://www.3dphoto.net/stereo/world/...ter/orongo.jpg

Rano Kau is one of the most scenic, beholding sights on the island. Mystic moai aside, the sheer beauty of this sheer crater makes it nearly worth the trip. You are looking southward here towards Antarctica. The Pacific Ocean is visible through the window on the far rim of the crater.

http://www.3dphoto.net/stereo/world/...ter/5_moai.jpg

The five moai of Ahu Vai Uri are not necessarily in the best shape, but they are still inspiring to see. The one on the left is in the best shape, and I'm not sure what happened to the little fellow on the right.

http://www.3dphoto.net/stereo/world/...h_topknots.jpg

Ahu Nau Nau

http://www.3dphoto.net/stereo/world/...er/15_moai.jpg

This lead-in shot on the main page, shown on the right, was taken from near where the cars are parked, at the right of the photograph above. The 15 moai were restored in the early 1990's, reversing some of the damage done when an earthquake and corresponding tsunami flattened the statues and sent several topknots far inland in the early 1960's. The island to the right is Motu Marotiri. Just behind me is Rano Raraku, the quarry, or birthplace of all the moai.

http://www.3dphoto.net/stereo/world/..._with_eyes.jpg

Ahu Ko Te Riku is the northernmost of the moai at the Tahai Ceremonial Complex, just outside of Hanga Roa. This guy was the only one I saw with the eyes in it, though I have seen photographs of the Moai at Playa Anakena with eyes as well.

http://www.3dphoto.net/stereo/world/.../motu_nui3.jpg

http://www.3dphoto.net/stereo/world/...hu_vinapu1.jpg

To see the whole photo gallery, visit http://www.3dphoto.net/stereo/world/...er/easter.html