the main Roach Easter Island. Rapa Nui National Park

Easter Island. Rapa Nui National Park

It is the most remote inhabited island in the world. Chile's continental coast is 3703 km to Pitcairn Island, the nearest settlement, - 1819 km. The island was opened by the Dutch traveler Jacob Rogheven in Easter Sunday of 1722.

The capital of the island and its only city - Hanga-Roa. In total, 5034 people live on the island ().

Rapa Nui is largely known thanks to the MOAI, or stone statues from a compressed volcanic ash, in which, according to local residents, the supernatural power of the ancestors of the first king of Easter Island - Hot-Mata is concluded. In 1888, Annexed Chile. In 1995, the Rap-Nui National Park became the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Names of the island

The island of Easter has many titles:

Hatteairagi (RAP. Hititeairagi), or Chiet-ai ranks (RAP. Hiti-Ai-Rangi);
Tekauhhangoaru (RAP. TEKAOUHANGOARU);
Mata-Ki-Te-Ragi (RAP. MATA-KI-TE-Ragi - Translated from Rapanuy "Eyes looking into the sky");
Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua (RAP. TE-PITO-O-TE-HENUA - "Earth PUP");
Rapa Nui (RAP. RAPA NUI - "Great Rap"), the name, mainly used by the vigorous
san Carlos Island (eng. San Carlos Island.), named so Gonzalez Don Felipe in honor of the King of Spain;
Therapy (RAP. TEAPI) - So called James Cook Island;
Vaichu (RAP. Vaihu), or Vaikhou. (RAP. VAIHOU), is found option Waygu - James Cook also used this title, and later Forster and Laperuz (in his honor the bay in the north-east of the island);
easter Island (eng. Easter Island.), called so Dutch navigator Jacob Rogheven, because he opened it on Easter day of 1722.

Very often the Easter Island is called Rap-Nui (in the translation of the "big rape"), although it is not Rapanuan, and Polynesian origin. This name is the island thanks to Tahitian navigators who used it to distinguish between Easter Island and Rapa Island (translated "Small Rap"), lying 650 km south of Tahiti, and having topological resemblance to him. The name of the "Rapa Nui" caused many disputes among linguists about the correct writing of this word. Among English-speaking specialists, the word "RAPA NUI" (2 words) is used for the name of the island, the word "Rapanui" (1 word) - when it comes to the people or local culture.

Geography

Easter Island is a unique territory in the southeastern part of the Pacific Ocean, which is one of the most remote from the sushi populated islands in the world. It is located 3,703 km from the coast of the nearest mainland in the East (South America) and removed from the nearest populated islands in the West (Pitcairn Island) by 1819 km. The coordinates of the island: -27.116667 , -109.35 27 ° 07 'Yu. sh. 109 ° 21 's. d. / 27.116667 ° YU. sh. 109.35 ° C. d. (G) (O). Island Area - 163.6 km². The nearest unanished land is the Sala-I-Gomez Archipelago, not counting several rocks near the island.

Toromiro barrel, a diameter in the human thigh and thinner, was often used in the construction of houses; Also made spears from it. In the XIX -XX centuries, this tree was exterminated (one of the reasons was the fact that the young pigly destroyed the sheep was destroyed).

Fauna

Before arriving at the Isle of Europeans, the Fauna Islands of Easter was mainly represented by marine animals: seals, turtles, crabs. Until the XIX century on the island bred chickens. Types of local fauna, previously inhabited rape, extinct. For example, the view of the rat Rattus ExulansWhich in the past, local residents were used. Instead of her the island were delivered by European courts of the rat Rattus Norvegicus. and Rattus Rattus.who became the carriers of various diseases previously not known to Rapanuits.

Now 25 types of sea birds nest on the island and 6 species of terrestrial birds live.

Population

It is assumed that during the cultural heyday on Easter Island in the XVI -XVII centuries, the population of Rap-Nui was from 10 to 15 thousand people. Due to the environmental catastrophe, which resulted in an anthropogenic factor, as well as collisions between residents, the population of the arrival of the first Europeans decreased to 2-3 thousand people. The number of 3000 inhabitants also pointed out James Cook when visiting the island. By 1877, as a result of the export of local residents in Peru for platforms, epidemics, extensive sheep, the population was even more declining and amounted to 111 people. By 1888, the year of Annexia of Chile Island, 178 people lived on the island.

Administrative Governance

About two dozen police officers operate in the island, mainly responsible for security at the local airport.

There are also present military establishment Chile (mostly Navy). The current currency on the island is the Chilean Peso (on the island also in the turn of US dollars). Easter Island is a duty-free zone, so revenues to the budget of the islands from taxes are relatively small. To a large extent, it consists of government subsidies.

Infrastructure

Other infrastructure facilities (church, post office, bank, pharmacy, small shops, one supermarket, cafes and restaurants) preferably appeared in the 1960s. On the island there is a satellite telephone, the Internet and even a small disco for the locals. To call the Easter Island, you need to dial the Calile code +56, Easter Island code +32 and from August 5, 2006. The number 2. After that, a set of local numbers consisting of 6 digits (and the first three will be 100 or 551 are the only valid Prefixes on the island).

Tourism

Anachen - the most famous beach of the island

sights

Profile of the defeated idol on the background of the crater volcano early fervor

How they were delivered to the coast, unknown. According to the legend, they "walked" themselves. Recently, volunteers-enthusiasts found several ways to transport stone blocks. But what exactly used the ancient residents (or some kind of their own), until it was determined. Norwegian traveler Tour Heyerdal in the book "Aku-Aku" gives a description of one of these ways, which was tested in action by local residents. According to the book, information about this method was obtained from one of the few remaining direct descendants of the builders of the MOAI. So, one of the MOAI, tipped up from the pedestal, was otdly back through the use of logs, embarrassed under the statue, as levers, the swinging of which could be achieved by small movements of the statue along the vertical axis. The movement was recorded by lining under the top of the statue of the stones of various sizes and their alternations. The actual transportation statues could be carried out through wooden sled. This method of a local resident presents as the most likely, but he himself believes that the statues still reached their places alone.

Many unfinished Istukanov are in the quarries. With a detailed study of the island, the impression of suddenness of stopping work on statues is created.

Ranoraca - One of the most interesting places for tourists. At the foot of this volcano there is about 300 MOAI, different heights and at different stages of readiness. Not far from the bay is Ahu Tongarians, the largest ritual area with 15 statues installed on it of various values.
On the shore of the bay Anachen Located one of beautiful beaches Islands with crystal white coral sand. The bay is allowed to swim. Picnics are satisfied with palm groves for tourists. Also close to the Bay of Anachen are located ahu Atura-hooks And Ahu NUNAU. According to ancient legend, it was in this bay that Huhu-Mata, the first King of Rapa, Nui, with the first settlers of the island.
Te-Pito-Te-Henua (RAP. PAP Earth) - ceremonial platform on the island of round stones. A rather controversial place on Rapa Nui. Anthropologist Christian Walter argues that Te Pito-Te-Henua was installed in the 1960s to attract the island of gullible tourists.
On a volcano RANO-KAO There is an observation deck. Near the ceremonial platform near ORONO.
Pune Pau - A small volcano next to early kao. In the distant past, the red stone was obtained here, from which "hats" were made for local MOAI.

Story

Settlement and early story of the island

Before the appearance of Europeans, two different people lived on the island, which dominated and possessed a peculiar culture, writing, built by MEAI, and the "shorthow", which occupied subordinate position. During the uprising of the shorthow, which took place allegedly in the XVI century, all the long legs were exterminated, and their culture was lost. In the future, it was extremely difficult to restore information about the former culture of Easter Island, only fragmentary information remained.

Classes of ancient Rapanians

Easter Island is currently an unplaced island with non-fermented volcanic soil. However, by the time of settling by the Polynesians in the IX-X centuries, according to Palinologic studies of cores from the soil, the island was covered with dense forest cover.

In the past, as well as now, the slopes of volcanoes were used to breed gardens and growing bananas.

According to the legends of Rapa Nui, the Plants of Howe ( Triumfeta Semitriloba.), Marikuru ( Sapindus Saponaria.), makoy ( TheSpesia Populnea.) And the sandalwood tree was delivered by the King of Hot-Mata, sailing to the island from the mysterious homeland Mara'e Rang (English. Mara "E Renga). It could really happen, since Polynesians, in the population of new lands, brought with them plant seeds that had important practical importance. Ancient Rapanuses were very well versed in agriculture, plants, the peculiarities of their cultivation. Therefore, the island could well feed several thousand people.

The settlers cut down the forest for both economic needs (shipbuilding, construction of housing, transportation of the MOAI, etc.), and for the liberation of places for crops of agricultural crops. As a result of intense cutting, which lasted during the centuries, the forest was fully limited by about 1600. The consequence of this was the wind erosion of the soil, which destroyed the fertile layer, a sharp cut in the catch of fish due to the lack of forest for the construction of boats, the fall in food production, mass hunger, cannibalism and Reduction of the population several times in a few decades.

One of the problems of the island has always been a shortage of fresh water. There are no full-water rivers on Rap-Nui, and the water after rain is easily seeping through the soil and flows towards the ocean. Rapanuses built small wells, mixed fresh water with salty, and sometimes drank just salty water.

In addition to the tribes and generic communities, which constituted the basis of the Public Organization of Rapanuan Society, there were larger associations, political in their essence. Ten tribes, or mata. (RAP. MATA), were divided into two warrant union. The tribes of the West and the North-West of the island were usually called people Tue'u - This is the name of the volcanic peak not far from Hanga Roa. They were also called mata Nui. The tribes of the eastern part of the island in historical legends are called "people of Hot-Iti."

Ahu those Pito Kura - the center of the world in folklore residents of Easter Island

Ancient Rapanuses were extremely militant. As soon as the feud between the tribes began, their warriors painted their body into black and at night prepared their weapons to battle. After the victory, a feast was arranged on which the winners of the warriors were defeated. The cannibals themselves were called kai-Tangati (Rap. Kai Tangata). Cannibalism existed on the island up to the Christianization of all its inhabitants.

Europeans on the island

"Rurik" on an anchor parking from Easter Island

The active appeal of Rapanuytsev in Christianity began, although the leaders of local tribes resisted for a long time. On August 14, 1868, Eugene Eiro died of tuberculosis. The missionary mission existed for about 5 years and had a positive effect on the inhabitants of the island: missionaries were taught writing (although they had their own hieroglyphic writing), lettee, fought with theft, murder, polygamy, contributed to the development of agriculture, separating unknown earlier on the island of culture.

In 1868, on the island settled with the permission of missionaries Agent of Trading House Brander Dutru-Borns ( Dutroux-bornier), who was engaged in Rapa, the breeding of sheep. The flourishing of its economic activity refers to the period after the death of the last legitimate ruler, the son of the Supreme Chief of the Maurant, twelve-year-old Grigorio, who died in 1866.

In the meantime, the population of Rap-Nui significantly decreased and in 1877 amounted to 111 people.

The cult of "poultryshchekov" (XVI / XVII -XIX century)

Mother Island, View from ORONO

One of the attractions of the ORONO village are numerous petroglyphs with images of "poultry," and god Mac Mac (about 480).

Rong-Rongo

Fragment of plates with the text Rongo Rongo

Easter Island is the only island in the Pacific Ocean, which developed its own writing system - Rongo-Rongo. The entry of texts was carried out by pictograms, the letter of the letter is a bustland. Pictograms are among one centimeter and are represented by various graphic symbols, images of people, parts of the body, animal, astronomical symbols, houses, boats, and so on.

The writing of the Rong-Rongo has not yet been decrypted, despite the fact that many linguists engaged in this problem. In 1995, Linguist Stephen Fisher announced deciphering Rongo-Rongo texts, but his interpretation is disputed by other scientists.

The first of the existence on the island of Easter skulls with ancient letters was informed by the French missionary Eugene Eiro in 1864.

Currently, there are many scientific hypotheses relating to the origin and meaning of the Rapanuy Letter. M. Hornbostel., V. Heveshi, R. Heine Heldern It was believed that the letter of Easter Islands came from India through China, and then a letter from the Easter islands fell into Mexico and Panama. R. Kepbell argued that this writing came from the Far East through New Zealand. Imbeloni And later T. Heyerdal They tried to prove the South American Indian origin of both the writing of Rapa Nui and the whole culture. Many Easter Island specialists, including Fisher himself, believe that all 25 tablets with the writers of Rongo-Rongo appeared on the light after dating the natives with European writing during the landing on the island of Spaniards in 1770.

Easter Island and Lost Continent

Easter Island on World Map

This "Land of Davis", which was much later to identify with Easter Island, reinforced the conviction of cosmographs of the time in the fact that in this region there was a continent, as if asia as a balance of Asia and Europe. This led to the fact that brave navigators began to search for the lost continent. However, it was not possible to find it: instead, hundreds of the Pacific Islands were opened.

With the opening of Easter Island, the opinion was widespread that this is the Embacious Continent, at which there existed highly developed civilization for millennia, in the future disappeared in the sacrons of the ocean, and only high mountain peaks were preserved from the continent (in fact, these are extinct volcanoes ). The existence on the island of huge statues, MOAI, unusual Rapanuan signs just supported this opinion.

However, modern study of adjacent waters showed that it is unlikely.

Easter Island is 500 km from the ridge of underwater mountains, known as the East Pacific Rise, on the Lithospheric Plate of Nask. The island is on top of a huge mountain that has formed from volcanic lava. The last eruption of volcanoes on the island occurred 3 million years ago. Although some scientists suggest that it occurred 4.5-5 million years ago.

According to local legends, in the distant past the island was large. It is possible that it was so in the glacial period of Pleistocene, when the World Ocean level was below 100 meters. According to geological research, Easter Island has never been part of the sunken continent.

Notes

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE CENTR. RAPA NUI National Park. . Archived from the original source August 18, 2011. Checked April 13, 2007.
Easter Island Foundation. Frequently Asked Questions. What "s The Difference Between" Rapa Nui "and" Rapanui "?. (Inaccessible link - story) Checked April 13, 2007.
About Easter Island. Location. . (Inaccessible link - story) Checked April 13, 2007.
Easter Island Statue Project. About Easter Island. (Inaccessible link - story) Checked April 13, 2007.
Great Soviet Encyclopedia. 3rd edition. Article "Easter Island".
When drawing up this table, data from the site http://islandheritage.org/vg/vg06.html
Easter Island Statue Project. About Easter Island. Flora. . (Inaccessible link - story) Checked April 13, 2007.
Easter Island Statue Project. About Easter Island. Fauna. . (Inaccessible link - story) Checked April 13, 2007.
Ethnologue.com.

Easter Island

Span. Isla de Pascua, Rap. RAPA NUI.



Characteristics

Square	163.6 km²

The highest point	539 M.

Population	5806 people (2012)

Population density	35.49 people / km²

Location

27 ° 07'00 "Yu. sh. 109 ° 21'00 "s. d.


Aquatorium

The country

Region	Valparaiso

Provinces	Isla de Pascus

Easter Island


Media Files on Wikisklad

Easter Island, or Rapanui (Span. Isla de Pascua. , RAP. RAPA NUI, NOTET. PAAS EILAND) - Island in the southeastern part of the Pacific Ocean, the territory (together with the uninhabited island of Sala-I-Gomez forms the province and commune of Isla de Paskua as part of the Valparaiso region). Local Island name - Rapanui, or Rapa Nui (RAP. RAPA NUI). Area - 163.6 km².

Along with the Archipelago of Tristan da Cunya, is the most remote populated in the world. Chile's continental coast is 3514 km, to the island, the nearest settlement, is 2075 km. The island was opened by the Dutch traveler Jacob Rogheven in Easter Sunday of 1722.

The capital of the island and its only city - Anga Roa. In total, 5806 people live on the island (2012).

Rapanui is largely known due to the MOAI, or the stone statues from the compressed volcanic ash, in which the supernatural power of the ancestors of the first king of Easter is a supernatural strength of the first king of Easter Island - Hot-Mata. In 1888, annexed. In 1995, Rapanui National Park (Easter Island) became the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Etymology

Flag of Easter Island

Coat of arms of Easter Island

The Easter island has several names:

Hatteairagi (RAP. Hititeairagi), or Chiet-ai ranks (RAP. Hiti-Ai-Rangi);
Tekauhhangoaru (RAP. TEKAOUHANGOARU);
Mata-Ki-Te-Ragi (RAP. MATA-KI-TE-RAGI, translated from Rapanuy - "Eyes looking into the sky");
Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua (RAP. TE-PITO-O-TE-HENUA - "Earth PUP");
Rapanui or Rapa Nui (RAP. RAPA NUI - "Great Rap"), the name, mainly used by the vigorous
san Carlos Island (Span. Isla de San Carlos ), named so Gonzalez Don Felipe in honor of the king;
Therapy (RAP. TEAPI) - So called James Cook Island;
Vaichu (RAP. Vaihu), or Vaikhou. (RAP. VAIHOU), is found option Waygu- James Cook also used this title, and later Forster and Laperuz (in his honor the bay in the north-east of the island);
easter Island (Notherl. Paasch-eyland; Isla de Pascua. ), called so Dutch navigator Jacob Rogheven, because he opened it on Easter day of 1722.

Very often, the island of Easter is called Rapanui (translated - "big rape"). This name is the island thanks to the Tahitian navigators who used it to distinguish between Easter Island and Rapa Island (translated - "Small Rap"), lying 650 km south of Tahiti, and having topological resemblance to him. The name of the "Rapanui" caused many disputes among linguists about the correct writing of this word. Among English-speaking specialists the word " RAPA NUI"(Separately) is used for the name of the island, and the word" Rapanui."(Dlya) - when we are talking about the people or local culture.

Geography

Easter Island is a unique territory in the southeastern part of the Pacific Ocean, which is one of the most remote from the sushi populated islands in the world. Located 3514 km from the coast of the nearest mainland in the East () and removed from the nearest populated in the west (island) at 2075 km. The coordinates of the island: 27 ° 07 'Yu. sh. 109 ° 21 's. d.. Island Area - 163.6 km². The nearest land is an unanished Sala-I-Gomez archipelago, not counting several rocks near the island.

The island has the shape of a rectangular triangle whose hypotenus is southeast coast. The sides of this "triangle" have lengths at 16, 18 and 24 km. At the corners of the island, extinct volcanoes rise: early Kau (Rap. Rano Kau) (324 m) near the settlement of Mataveri; Poua Catika (Rap. Puakatike) (377 m) and Terevaka (Rap. Terevaka, 539 m - the highest point of the island).

The highest crater volcano Terevaka is called early Ari (RAP. RANO AROI, about 200 m). Actually "Early-Aroi" - the name of the lake filling the extinct crater.

Another crater Terevaka is an early rarap (Rap. Rano Raraku) (160 m) is also a lake with a large freshwater margin, surrounded by zone cane. The diameter of this crater is about 650 m.

The diameter of the crater early-kau is about 1500 m. The volcano has a symmetrical shape and surrounded by a hilly terrain. The southern slope breaks into the ocean.

On the inner slopes of volcanoes, vegetation is more abundant. This is explained by more fertile soil, the lack of strong wind and the "greenhouse effect."

Easter Island - Volcanic Origin. The soil was formed as a result of erosion of the slopes of volcanoes. The most fertile soil is located in the north of the island, where the locals grown by the Bathat and Yams. The most common rocks on the island are basalt, obsidian, rhyolite, fuchitis. The cliffs in the Laperose Bay (local name - Hang-Hoon) consist of lava red.

The island is surrounded by small islands: the southeastern tip - Motu-Nui (Rap. Motu Nui, the largest island, on which the military leaders of the residents of Rapanui) were elected in a distant past), Motu-ITI (Rap. Motu ITI), Moto-Kao-Kao (Rap. Motu Kao Kao, this island has a magnetic anomaly), at the Western tip - the Moto Tautir (Rap. Motu Tautira), and the Eastern tip - Motu Marotiri (Rap. Motu Marotiri).

Panorama of Easter Island from the Border of Crater Rano-Kau

Climate Islands

Climatogram of Easter Island

Easter islands climate, tropical. The average annual temperature is 21.8 ° C, the coldest month is August (19.2 ° C), the most warm - January (24.6 ° C). The island lies near the southern border of the zone of southeastern winds, which in the summer. In winter, the northwestern, but there are also southwestern and southeastern winds. Despite the proximity to the tropics, the climate on the island is relatively moderate. Heat happens rarely. This is due to the proximity of the cold flow of Humboldt and the absence of any land between the island and. Wind from Antarctica in July-August often reduce the daily air temperature to 20 ° Celsius.

The main source of fresh water on the island - lakes formed in the craters of local volcanoes. There are no rivers on Rapanui, and rain water is easily seeping through the soil, forming groundwater flowing towards the ocean. Since the water on the island is not so much, the locals in the past everywhere built wells and small reservoirs.

Table of average monthly temperatures, precipitation and humidity

Flora

Easter Island Spring

Flora Islands is very poor: experts are no more than 30 species of plants growing on Rapanui. Most of them were brought from other islands, America. Many endemic plants, previously widespread on Rapanui, are exterminated. Between the IX and the XVII centuries, there was an active cutting down of trees (according to another version - the trees died due to long-term drought, or these factors acted at the same time), which led to the disappearance of forests on the island (probably, before it was produced by forests from endemic palm Paschalococos Disperta.). Another reason could be eating seeds of trees rats. In connection with the irrational economic activity of man and other factors, the accelerated soil erosion caused vast damage to agriculture, as a result of which the population of Rapanui was significantly reduced.

One of the extinct plants - Sophora Toromiro., whose local name toromiro (RAP. Toromiro). This is a small tree (not more than 2 m high) family of legumes on the island in the past played an important role in the culture of Rapanuits: "Speaking signs" with local pictograms were made from it.

Toromiro barrel, a diameter in the human thigh and thinner, was often used in the construction of houses; Darts were also made from it. In the XIX-XX centuries, this tree was exterminated (one of the reasons was the fact that the young pigle was destroyed by the sheep's island). The plant managed to preserve, growing from the collected seeds, only in several botanical gardens of Europe and Chile, attempts to reactions on the island were not crowned with success.

Another plant island - a variety of tute wood, whose local name is makhuta. (RAP. Mahute). In the past, this plant also played a significant role in the life of the islanders: white clothing was made from the Luba of Luba Tapa, called Tapa. After the first Europeans appeared on the island - Kitoboe and Missionaries - the value of the mahute in everyday life of Rapanuitsy decreased.

Roots Plants t. (RAP. Ti), or Dracaena Terminalis.used for the manufacture of sugar. Also, this plant was used for the manufacture of powdered dark blue and green, which was then applied to the body as tattoos.

Macoi (Rap. Makoi) ( TheSpesia Populnea.) Used for thread.

One of the surviving plants of the island, which grows on the slopes of Crater Rano Kao and early raraku, - Scirpus Californicus.used in the construction of houses.

In recent decades, a small eucalyptus piglery began to appear on the island. In the XVIII-XIX centuries, grapes, banana, melon, sugar cane were brought to the island.

Fauna

Before arriving at the island of Europeans, the fauna of Easter Islands was mainly represented by sea animals: seals, turtles, crabs. On the island bred chickens. Types of local fauna, who inhabited Rappanui earlier, extinct - for example, the subspecies of the rat Rattus ExulansWhich in the past, local residents were used. Instead of her the island were delivered by European courts of the rat Rattus Norvegicus. and Rattus Rattus.who became the carriers of various diseases, previously unknown Rapanians.

Now 25 types of sea birds nest on the island and 6 species of terrestrial birds live.

Population

Main article: Population of Easter Island

It is assumed that during a cultural heyday on the island of Easter in the XVI-XVII centuries, the population of Rappanui was from 10 to 15 thousand people. Due to the environmental catastrophe, which broke out as a result of an anthropogenic factor, as well as clashes between residents, the population of the arrival of the first Europeans decreased to 2-3 thousand people, which was so much to feed the island. By 1877, as a result of the export of local residents in for relieving works, epidemics and extensive sheep, the population was even more declined and amounted to 111 people. By 1888, the time of annexation of the island, 178 people lived on Rapanui. According to the last census of 2012, 5806 people have lived on the island. The population density on the island reached 36 people / km² (to comparison, B - 230, B - 8.4). Official languages \u200b\u200bon the island - Spanish and Rapanoisha. Most of the modern inhabitants of the island (52%) are Spanish-speaking immigrants from continental chile, as well as their descendants of the 2nd and 3rd generations; 48% of the inhabitants have full or partial Rapanuan origin. The proportion of pure autochthons tends to decrease as a result of their gradual mohethisation and spanis.

Administrative Governance

Main article: Isla de Paskua (province)

Easter Island, along with the surrounding islands and uninhabited island of Sala-I-Gomez, forms the province of Isla de Paskua and the communion of the Commune as part of the Chilean region Valparaiso. The province is headed by the governor accredited under the Chilean government and appointed by the president. Since 1984, only a local resident can become the island's governor (Sergio Rapy Haoa, a former archaeologist and museum keeper). Since 1966, in the village of Anga-Roa, every four years is elected the local council from 6 members, headed by the mayor.

About two dozen police officers responsible, mainly for security at the local airport operate in the island.

There are also armed forces of Chile (mainly Navy). The current currency on the island is the Chilean Peso (on the island in the turnover also US dollars). Easter Island is a duty-free zone, so revenues to the budget of the islands from taxes are relatively small. To a large extent, it consists of government subsidies.

Infrastructure

Plane Lan Airlines at the Islands Airport

In 1966, the only airport of Mataveri is the base of the American Air Force, and in 1986 it was reconstructed NASA for possible emergency landings of American "Shuttles", therefore it is one of the most remote airports of the world, capable of taking large capacity aircraft. Due to the sharp influx of tourists on the island, active construction is maintained, and tourism itself has become the main source of income for local residents (however, the total number of tourists is not so great).

On the island there is a centralized water supply system, although even recently, local residents used fresh water from lakes of extinct volcanoes. Electricity on the island is produced by diesel generators available in every home. The roads with solid coverage are near the administrative center of the island - the settlements of Anga Roa, as well as Mataveri, where the airport is located. At the same time, the road from the Anga-Roa to the Bay of Anachen in the north and to the Peninsula, drinking in the south is good. In the school of Anga-Roa, after the release, you can get a certificate about the end of the secondary school, which gives the right to enter a higher education institution, but there are no higher educational institutions on the island, therefore, to continue learning, local residents have to go to the mainland of Chile. In the elementary school of Easter Island under the auspices of UNESCO, classes in two languages \u200b\u200b- Rapanuan and Spanish are held. The Anthropological Museum named after Father Sebastian Englert, as well as a large library with a collection of books devoted to history, culture and study of Easter Island, also operates at Rapanouje.

Health care on the island is significantly better than in other remote corners of Chile. There is one small hospital, as well as an ambulatory.

Other infrastructure facilities (church, post office, bank, pharmacy, small shops, one supermarket, cafes and restaurants) appeared mainly in the 1960s. On the island there is a satellite telephone, the Internet and even a small disco for the locals. To call the Easter Island, you need to dial the Chile code - +56, Easter Island code - +32 and from August 5, 2006, the number 2. After that, a set of local number consisting of 6 digits is carried out (and the first three will be 100 or 551 Single acting prefixes on the island).

Tourism

Anachen - the most famous beach of the island

Ahu Tongariki

Tourism is the main source of income of the population. The only regular flight with Easter Island is carried out by the Chilean airline " Lan Airlines."Whose airplanes are departed from on Tahiti, making an intermediate landing on Easter Island. Domestic flights are carried out according to the Santiago - Island of Easter - Santiago. Depending on which a ticket is ordered, international or internal, departure comes from two different terminals of Santiago Airport. Flight schedule depends on the time of year. In December, flights are carried out several times a week. The rest of the year - from one to two times a week. The flight lasts about 5 hours. Since November 2010, getting to Easter Island can also be direct flight from the capital. All aircraft are landing at the Single Airport of Easter Island - Mataveri. On Rapanui there is only one marina for small ships. There is no regular shipping message with other planet corners.

There are several hotels on the island, including four and three-star levels. Prices for Rapanui are very high; This is due to the fact that most products are imported. To the sights of the island can be reached by taxi, rented cars, bicycles, horses or on foot.

Since 1975, on the island annually at the end of January - the beginning of February, Tapati festival (RAP. Tapati Rapa NUI) is held, accompanied by dancing, chants and various traditional Rapanuvent competitions.

sights

Profile of statues on the background of the crater volcano early fervor

MOAI - stone statues on the coast of Easter Island in the form of a human head with a torso, truncated by about the level of the belt. Their height reaches 20 meters. Contrary to popular belief, they are not looking towards the ocean, but deep into the island. Some MOAI have hats from red stone. MOAI was manufactured in the Camera in the center of the island.

How they were delivered to the coast, unknown. According to the legend, they "walked" themselves. Recently, volunteers-enthusiasts found several ways to transport stone blocks, but exactly the ancient residents (or some of their own) were used yet. Norwegian traveler Tour Heyerdal in the book "Aku-Aku" gives a description of one of these ways, which was tested in action by local residents. According to the book, information about this method was obtained from one of the few remaining direct descendants of the builders of the MOAI. So, one of the MOAI, tipped up from the pedestal, was otdly back through the use of logs, embarrassed under the statue, as levers, the swinging of which could be achieved by small movements of the statue along the vertical axis. The movement was recorded by lining under the top of the statue of the stones of various sizes and their alternations. The actual transportation statues could be carried out through wooden sled. This method of a local resident presents as the most likely, but he himself believes that the statues still reached their places independently.

Many unfinished Istukanov are in the quarries. With a detailed study of the island, the impression of suddenness of stopping work on statues is created.

Ranoraca - One of the most interesting places for tourists. At the foot of this volcano there is about 300 MOAI, different heights and at different stages of readiness. Not far from the bay is Ahu Tongarians - The largest ritual platform with 15 statues installed on it of various values.
On the shore of the bay Anachen There is one of the most beautiful beaches of the island with crystal white coral sand. The bay is allowed to swim. Picnics are satisfied with palm groves for tourists. Also close to the Bay of Anachen are located ahu Atura-hooks And Ahu NUNAU. According to the ancient legend, it was in this bay that Huhu-Matu landed, the first king of Rapanui, with the first settlers of the island.
Te-Pito-Te-Henua (RAP. "PUP of the Earth") - ceremonial platform on the island of round stones. The origin of this place is quite controversial. Anthropologist Christian Walter argues that Te Pito-Te-Henua was installed in the 1960s to attract the island of gullible tourists.
On a volcano RANO-KAO There is an observation deck. Near the ORONO ceremonial platform near.
Pune Pau - A small volcano next to early kao. In the distant past, the red stone was obtained here, from which "hats" were made for local MOAI.