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This has got to be one of the hidden treasures of the planet. Easter Island is the most remote inhabited place in the world - over 2000km from the next inhabited island and 3700km from the Chilean coast line. A fascinating place with a still unknown history. The statues (Moai's) are incredible but the island culture is still strong and very much based on an oral tradition.
Orla + a reconstructed Moai site = pretty impressive photograph.
This is the quarry where they mined and carved the statues - it is the inside of an extinct volcano. There are 397 statues in various stages of construction.
The classic images - National Geographic style.
I'm not sure that they have the history of these statues figured out yet - Orla has discovered a new use for them as shade providers.
I don't think you could take a bad photograph of these - spectacular sights.
The largest reconstruction on the island gives you a sense of what it must have been like when hundreds of these were in place back in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Some of these statues weigh over 100 tonnes!
One of the most complete sites is a restoration project at Anakena. The statues have their traditional top-knots in place. They once had cloaks, coral and obsidian for eyes and delicate details carved all over before the effects of erosion and tribal wars. |
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