Moai(world landmark)

The Moai Statues: Chile’s iconic landmark

The Moai statues are large stone carvings located on Easter Island in Chile. Easter Island, though part of Chile, is a tiny  island located over five hours away by plane from the capital, Santiago. The Moai statues are carved to resemble human faces, and there are over 600 of them on the island. Most of the statues are positioned facing away from the sea and vary in size, standing from 3 to 20 meters tall and weighing between 20 and 90 tons.

The island was discovered in 1722 by a Dutch explorer, and the name “Easter Island” comes from the day of its discovery, Easter Sunday. The exact date and purpose of the Moai statues’ creation remain uncertain. They were mostly built between 1250 and 1500 and are thought to have been made to protect the island. However, the methods of construction and the identity of the creators are still unknown. This mystery has led to the Moai statues being included as one of the “Seven Wonders of the World.”