The History Of Paskah Island

Paskah island (In Polynesian called Rapa Nui, Spanish : Isla de Pascua) is an island belonging to Chile and located in the southern pacific Ocean. Although the distance 3515 Km west of Chile Mainland, administratively Paskah Island included in the Province of Valparaiso. Paskah Island shaped like a triangle. Easter Island Area of 163.6 km². According to the 2002 census, the population of 3791 inhabitants that majority settled in the capital of Hanga Roa. This island with many famous statues (moai), the statue is 400 years of age be chiselled out of stone that is now located along the coastline.


Specialist navigator from Dutch Jakob Roggeveen found the Paskah Island in Easter Day on 1722. Must be known that the "Rapa Nui" name not the original name of the Paskah Island that was given by the Rapanui ethnic group. The name is created by the immigrant workers from the tribe of native Rapa in the Bass Islands and that was the same with the home village. The name given from tribe Rapanui island is Te Pito o te henua, but this designation is also taken from other locations, may be from a building in the Marquesas.

Large sculptures of stone, which is the symbol of Easter Island be chiselled on the first. The Arkeologis now estimate the gouge is held between 1600 and 1730. be chiselled statue last when Jakob Roggeveen found this island. There are more than 600 large monolithic stone statue (Moai). Although the section is often seen only "Head", moai actually have a complete torso. But many moai that have been buried up to his neck and most be chiselled out of stone in the Rano Raraku. Popular theory states that the moai be chiselled by the Polynesian inhabitants (Rapanui) at the time of this island as most trees and natural resources still sustain a population that many of the native Rapanui 10000-15000. The majority of the moai still standing upright when Roggeveen arrived in 1722. Captain James Cook also saw many moai that stand when he landed on the island in 1774. Until the 19th century, the statue has fallen due to internecine warfare. ( Translate from Http://BB17.com )