Meaning Center of the World, or Navel of the World.
A name believed to have been given to the Island by Polynesian settlers arriving in Approx 300AD on the worlds most remote inhabited Island better known as Easter Island.
Named by the Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen who landed there on Easter in 1722.
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Ahu Tongariki at sunrise. I got up at 5 AM to get this photo however sunrise wasen't until about two hours later.
If you are there and took that picture, then you are indeed a fortunate traveler. :)
If you are There, we need more pictures !!! :D Lots more ! 8)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/35456/HINARIRU_WITH_ME.jpg)
The Moai behind me is Hinaraiu. This sight is the Rano Raraku Quary. There are 397 Moai in this area alone.
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Anakena Beach, Prier to my visit, I always figured pictures like this one were enhanced but I can assure you it's real. It is even more beautiful then pictures.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/35456/CLIFF_AT_ORONGO.jpg) The view from Orongo.
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3000 horses roam free on the Island, This herd was near the Hanga Tetenga ruins, enroute to the Rano Raraku Quary
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/35456/NEAR_THE_CAMP_GRONDS.jpg)
My transportation for the week with my SCUBA gear strapped on the front.
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A close up of two Moai at Anakena Beach. You can see that their eye sockets have been relieved for the insertion of precisely carved white coral. It is widely believed that the eye sockets were not carved until the Moai were set in place on their platforms thus giving them the ability to look to the heavens , bringing their spirit to life.
None of the 397 Moai in the Rano Raraku Quary have their eye sockets carved thus are unfinished.
Some of the original white coral eyes have been removed from the island by thieves and some are in museums.
I spent a couple days in Chili and viewed the ones they have on display in Santago.
I could go on and on about this mysterious and magical place, It is full of surprises.
Anyone here on Forestry Forum who has had an organ transplant might be interested to know that The Drug known as Rapamycin is an Immunosuppressant used throughout the world to prevent rejection of organs after transplants, and has been particularly effective in the transplant of Kidneys. It was discovered within bacteria from soil samples taken from the far side of Rano Kau in 1965 and given the name Rapamycin due to it's origin in Rapa Nui. It is now produced synthetically, and often prescribed to patients for it's antifungal and antitumor capabilities.
More recently it has been tested for the treatment of certain cancers and while still at the very early stages of experimentation, some of the initial results have been very positive. A group of Scientist from Harvard recently discovered that Rapamycin is also able to slow down the ageing process of some single celled organisms, causing a media frenzy that the key to eternal youth had been found on Easter Island, but so far im still getting older by the day. Hope you enjoyed a small look at where I celebrated my birthday. Larry
Thank you for such an in-depth description of some of your travels and interesting trivia. :P
This is just great :) :) :)
smiley_clapping
Thanks very much for the pics 8) 8)
Are there mostly beaches or mostly rocks along the coast ?
Thanks for the trip! What part of Nebraska are you from?
Quote from: sprucebunny on February 16, 2016, 12:14:19 PM
Thanks very much for the pics 8) 8)
Are there mostly beaches or mostly rocks along the coast ?
Only two small beaches, Coast line is rough and unapproachable with an almost constant surf.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/35456/AHU_TONGARIKI__TAKEN_FROM_QUARY.jpg)
Quote from: sandhills on February 16, 2016, 12:53:51 PM
Thanks for the trip! What part of Nebraska are you from?
Dorchester, Near Lincoln.
I see your in the sandhills? We count sheep for the Nebraska Big Game Society in Crawford, Fort Robinson area of the sandhills.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/35456/Rick_and_I_fort_Robinson.JPG)
We live NW of Albion, very eastern edge of the sandhills, we run most our cattle in the Bartlett/Ericson area, I love going west and the country you work in is beautiful. I like the mules too ;).
I saw things I would have never seen in my life time thank you for the pics 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Quote from: coxy on February 20, 2016, 04:18:57 PM
I saw things I would have never seen in my life time thank you for the pics 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
x2 and things i never new existed :)
Very cool pictures Lorenzo,, I saw a documentary about this island not long ago,, they claim the statues were to ward off invaders? That is a long way from home,, thanks for sharing,,
The last show I saw on them showed that many of the heads have complete bodies buried under them.
Thanks you for sharing the photos and information!