Moai are massive monolithic figures at Easter Island, and they are what the island is famous for. The statues are a part of the worship of the ancestor gods and built to honor important people of the tribes who passed away. Native islanders, called Rapa Nui, carved the idols with stone tools from compressed volcanic ash in approximately 1250-1500 A.D. Many know Moai as the Easter Island Heads. Truth is that all of the heads have bodies covered up with soil. Many statues have never been transported and stay at their birth place- volcano Rano Raraku. Others were transported around the island and placed on rectangular stone tombs called Ahu, tombs for the people that the statues represented. There are 887 registered Moai on the Easter Island. The tallest statue erected is almost 10 meters (33 ft) high and weighed 82 tons (181,000 lbs).

My Bed-n-Breakfast was located just 5 minutes walking distance from Ahu Tahai. So the sunset shots have been taken there. Moai in sunrise photos are from Ahu Tongariki. “Heads” are from the volcano Rano Raraku. The first/top photo has been taken at Ahu Anakena (Anakena Beach). Moai in the last photo is a modern production, a prop for the movie Rapa Nui (1994). Don’t forget to watch it before going to the island. For the convenience of those who are planning their trips to Easter Island, I have created a Large Printable Map of Easter Island (Rapa Nui). I highly recommend to rent a car or scooter and explore the island on the wheels.

If interested, here is another post with photos of Moai- Mystery Of Easter Island.
More photo posts from Easter Island can be found here.

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gmeanm3r

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile

Moai. Easter Island, Chile