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26-412: Geographically isolated, the island forms the eastern geographic and cultural boundary of Polynesia. It is 3,700 kilometres (2,300 mi) west of Chile, about 2,200 km (1,400 mi) east of Pitcairn Island (the nearest human habitat) and is the most remote inhabited spot on Earth. The park is triangular in shape and has a length of 23 km (14 mi) and a width of 11 km (6.8 mi). It

52-507: A narrow ridge between the ocean, and the deep crater of Rano Kau volcano, which last erupted about 150,000 to 210,000 years ago. The earliest inhabitants of the island called it " Te Pito o TeHenua " (the navel/end of the world). The first European to discover the island was Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen on Easter day, 1722. As a result, he named it "Easter Island". He observed that the inhabitants were of three groups: "dark skinned, red skinned, and very pale skinned people with red hair". In

78-480: A sea change from what existed in the ancient days when there were palm trees and a broad leaf forest. Before the Polynesians settled here in the 4th century, the island had an extensive forest cover of trees, shrubs, ferns, and grasses. The island is now almost completely grass-covered with only a few ornamental trees and shrubs scattered over the island. Of the 150 recorded plant species, 45 are endemic. However,

104-485: A single tree by Thor Heyerdahl . It is sometimes claimed that all toromiro trees are derived from this single individual, but research has determined that at least one other tree's descendants survive. The Jardin du Val Rahmeh , a botanical garden in Menton in the south of France , is dedicated to the acclimatization and conservation of rare species, including Sophora toromiro . This Sophoreae -related article

130-491: Is 1,250 millimetres (49 in), with rains occurring during the winter season. The average temperature varies from 19 °C (66 °F) in winter to 24 °C (75 °F) in summer. The Rapa Nui people settled the island some time between 300 and 1200 CE. The park was created by the Chilean Government in 1935. The native people were confined to a reserve area just outside the capital city of Hanga Roa and

156-420: Is 1,800 mm. Indigenous fauna consists of insects and lizards. Since their introduction, rats have become an invasive species . A large number of seabirds nest along the steep shorelines. As coral reefs are absent, fishing is offshore. Sharks, sea bream , barracudas and tuna are all abundant. Whale migrations are seen yearly. Sophora toromiro Sophora toromiro , commonly known as toromiro ,

182-594: Is a species of flowering tree in the legume family, Fabaceae , that is endemic to Easter Island . Heavy deforestation had eliminated most of the island's forests by the first half of the 17th century, and the once common toromiro became rare and ultimately extinct in the wild in the 1960s. Local tradition has it that the rongorongo tablets of Easter Island are made of toromiro. However, all tablets of native wood tested by modern methods have turned out to be Thespesia populnea , known as miro or milo in some Polynesian languages. David Attenborough describes

208-478: Is home to an extinct megalithic culture which is seen in the form of edifices of huge statues called " moai " made out of volcanic rocks. The topography includes volcanoes and a rugged coastline. Its elevation varies from sea level to 300 m (980 ft). It has fresh water lakes, volcanic craters and a coastline which is subject to erosion. The park experiences a warm sub-tropical climate with southeast trade winds from October to April. The annual average rainfall

234-399: Is not surrounded by coral reefs that protect the coast. The only access to the island is via a small pier on Bounty Bay . Adamstown is the sole settlement. Pawala Valley Ridge is the island's highest point at 346 m above sea level. The volcanic soil and tropical climate with abundant rainfall make the soil productive. The average temperature ranges from 19 to 24°C. The annual rainfall

260-507: Is now under the administrative control of the Ma´u Henua Polynesian Indigenous Community, which is the first autonomous institute on the island. The indigenous Rapa Nui people have regained authority over their ancestral lands and are in charge of the management, preservation and protection of their patrimony. On the first of December 2017, the ex-President Michelle Bachelet returned ancestral lands in

286-501: The 19th century, a Tahitian visitor who thought the island resembled Rapa but was bigger ( nui means big), gave it the Polynesian name " Rapa Nui ". In Chile, the island is called "Isla De Pascua" Spanish for Easter Island. As the island was isolated there are many endemic species of animals and plants. The park is under IUCN Management Category II in southeastern Polynesia. Its biogeographic and ecological history has undergone

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312-482: The 887 extant stone statues known as "moai". Much of the island has been included in the Rapa Nui National Park. On 22 March 1996 UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site of cultural significance under criteria (i), (iii), & (v). In October 2022, a forest fire swept through the park whilst causing “irreparable” damage to wetlands and the moai statues within the archaeological site. The moai in

338-514: The coast and parallel to it. Many unfinished moai are also found in the quarries. The production and transportation of the 887 statues are considered remarkable creative and physical feats. The moai have been under restoration since 1950. The period between 1837 and 1864 was a critical time when, for reasons that remain unknown, all the standing statues were toppled (probably during the tribal wars), although with little damage. Subsequently they were retrieved and returned to their original positions during

364-524: The form of the Rapa Nui National Park to the indigenous people. For the first time in history, the revenue generated by the National Park is invested in the island and used to conserve the natural heritage. Its conservation value is dictated by the archaeological investigations of the important intangible value of its cultural heritage. The management plan drawn by the park administration is oriented towards these archaeological investigations. Zoning of

390-419: The government. The World Monument Fund started working here in 1968 with UNESCO later recognizing the site as a World Heritage site of cultural importance. With an airline operating (the airport built in 1965 was expanded in 1985) between Chile and the island, more scientists have become interested in island's heritage, undertaking research on various aspects of its now defunct culture. The Rapa Nui National Park

416-540: The island is largely covered by grass with three endemic species. In ancient times the only species of tree found here were Sophora toromiro and Paschalococos . The toromiro tree is now extinct on the island and Paschalococos is a species that could be related to the Chilean palm, Jubaea chilensis . In the steppe areas of the island, the vegetation consists mostly of species of Austrostipa and Nassella . Other species recorded are of introduced varieties. Among

442-501: The island. 27°09′S 109°27′W  /  27.15°S 109.45°W  / -27.15; -109.45 Pitcairn Island Pitcairn Island is the only inhabited island of the Pitcairn Islands , in the southern Pacific Ocean , of which many inhabitants are descendants of mutineers of HMS Bounty . The island is of volcanic origin, with a rugged cliff coastline. Unlike many other South Pacific islands, it

468-451: The island. These are: Fregata nubor , red-tailed tropicbird ( Phaethon rubricauda ), and Kermadec petrel . Three micro- lepidopteran species are reported in the park which have no links to South American species; one of these is Asymphorodes trichogramma . Invasive plants have been introduced for livestock grazing. Forest fires are a common feature, threatening the remaining native plant species. Archaeological investigations indicate

494-500: The park are of varying height from 2 to 20 metres (6 to 65 ft). The volcanic rock formations quarried for sculpting are a distinctive yellow-brown volcanic tuff found only at the Ranu Raraku on the southeast side of the island. Some of the moai were also carved from red scoria . The ceremonial shrines where they are erected for offering worship are known as " ahu ". Of impressive size and form, they are normally built close to

520-410: The park has been done accordingly under the classification of intangible zone, primitive zone, extensive use zone, service and CONAF (1976) zone and special use zone. A harmonious blend of conservation activities in the reserve areas (including monoliths and structures) with agricultural activities, livestock grazing, orchards and traditional fishing sites has evolved in the integrated management plans for

546-458: The period of restoration with international assistance. The moai represented a clan's "most revered forebears who were believed to bestow ‘mana’ on living leaders". The park also has a few petroglyphs and paintings. The Birdman cult which replaced the moai cult worship was concentrated in Orongo at a ceremonial site called Mata Ngarau. The location is at an elevation of 250 metres (820 ft), on

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572-465: The rest of the land was leased to sheep ranchers. The movement for independence was started in 1964 and following this the lease for sheep farming was terminated during the 1980s and the entire island was declared a historic park. The population of the island which was 2,770 in 1972 rose to 3,792 by 2002, mostly concentrated in the capital. The island was brought under the administrative control of Chile in 1888. Its fame and World Heritage status arise from

598-573: The shrubs, the hau hau ( Triumfetta semitriloba ) is still present but Coprosma spp. , is not seen on the island. The wood of the now extinct Jubaea palm was used to make devices for transporting the huge stone moai statues. It has been established by carbon dating that this species of tree existed on the island till the 17th century. Ferns are indigenous to Rapa Nui, and four of the 15 species noted are endemic: Doodia paschalis , Polystichum fuentesii , Elaphoglossum skottsbergii , and Thelypteris espinosae . Triumfetta semitriloba which

624-461: The terrain is subject to damage from erosion and the influx of tourists. Though declared a national park in 1935, the first management plan (by CONAF) was not implemented until the 1980s. As a result of inadequate funding, conservation was initially at a low level leading international conservation agencies to provide financial and technical support. Chile responded by setting up a Rapa Nui Monuments Board which enabled actions to be taken independent of

650-585: The timber from which a small wooden male sculpture in his possession is made, having been identified by Kew Gardens as Sophora toromiro . The tree is being reintroduced to the island in a scientific project partly led jointly by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Gothenburg Botanical Garden , where the only remaining plants of this species with a documented origin were propagated in the 1960s from seeds collected from

676-737: Was considered an extinct species on the island was located in 1988. According to a recent report (1991), apart from 166 introduced species of plants, 46 indigenous plant species including nine endemic species have been recorded. Also noted in the lower level of the Rano Raraku crater are tall bulrushes like totora that were probably introduced by seafarers from South America . The island's only mammals are rodents and carnivorans . The reptiles recorded are three species of marine turtles and two terrestrial lizards , Lepidodactylus lugubris and Ablepharus boutoui poecilopleurus . Four bird species – three terrestrial and one marine – are found on

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