Rano Raraku Trail

Each Moai, which means Statue, takes approximately one year to complete and transport, the Moai that have fallen while being transported are abandoned and, apart from the impossibility of raising them, they are said to no longer hold the ‘soul’ and the process is repeated. What I understood, from being here, is the Moai still standing are waiting to be transported and that’s why they face the sea. It is quite sad seeing the fallen Moai…

The largest Moai is located here in Rano Raraku Quarry, called El Gigante it is 21.60 metres high and estimated to weigh 170 metric tons

The ‘Three Moai’ are still in the rock face and show clearly how they are hewn from the rock face, I have only shown the one Moai, for clarity, but it is reminiscent of the Egyptians carving the Obelisk except carving in from the side rather than the topRead more