Easter Island
Chile, South America
Location
Some 2,000 miles off the west coast of Chile, Easter Island is a small land mass of roughly 63 square miles. The island is surrounded by a chain of extinct, fully submerged volcanoes. The island itself is a host to three extinct volcanoes. Easter Island is one of the most remote inhabited islands, it's nearest neighbor 2,180 miles to the west. Most historians agree that the first settlers were pioneers from Polynesia.
Description - The Island
History
While this believable history has held its ground for years, recent discoveries on Easter Island have led historians to believe this story may be completely wrong - here's the new theory. Thousands of years ago, a band of people left their homeland, and set out on the seas to search for a better land for themselves. They were not alone though, for in their canoes were tiny stowaways - rats. Historians believe that once the new natives reached the island and dubbed it Rapa Nui, the rats also began a new life. With no natural predators, the rat population grew impossibly fast. The creatures began eating the native trees, and in a short time, the forests were completely gone. The forest plants died off, as did the island's animals. This was hardly a problem for the natives, though. They had a surplus of rat meat to live off of. With new land exposed, they seized the opportunity to begin farming, and used minerals from the coastal rocks to fertilize the soil. This paradise didn't last long though. When European settlers arrived, the indigenous population decreased rapidly from new diseases.
With two very possible histories of the island, historians are at war, trying to decide the most plausible theory. Until anything can be decided for sure, the only thing you can do is decide which one you think is true.
The Moais' Sacredness
Interesting Facts
Works Cited
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Gray, Martin. “Easter Island.” Places of Peace and Power. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2016. <https://sacredsites.com/americas/chile/easter_island.html>.
Kia. “6 Interesting Easter Island Facts.” Atlas & Boots. Atlas & Boots, 1 July 2015. Web. 7 Feb. 2016. <http://www.atlasandboots.com/easter-island-facts/>.
Krulwich, Robert. “What Happened On Easter Island - A New (Even Scarier) Scenario.” npr (krulwich wonders). npr, 10 Dec. 2013. Web. 7 Feb. 2016. <http://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2013/12/09/249728994/what-happened-on-easter-island-a-new-even-scarier-scenario>.
“Locator Map of Easter Island.” worldatlas. worldatlas, 2016. Web. 10 Feb. 2016. <http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/samerica/easterisland.htm>.
Olson, Randy. “Easter Island.” National Geographic. National Geographic, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. <http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/07/easter-island/olson-photography#/04-three-volcanos-formed-easter-island-670.jpg>.
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Scientists Make Easter Island Statue Walk. YouTube. YouTube, 21 June 2012. Web. 26 Feb. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpNuh-J5IgE>.
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“Tukuturi.” Worldtravelholic. Worldtravelholic, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2016. <http://www.worldtravelholic.com/blog>.