Rano Raraku
Rano Raraku
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Rano Raraku
Rano Raraku, the Quarry, the Nursery. This is the birthplace of all things moai. The moai were carved on the outside and inside walls of this volcanic crater on the eastern end of the island and transported all over the island to their destinations. It is estimated that nearly 1000 were carved, and there are nearly 400 of them deployed, buried, or abandoned while still under construction at this site. This particular shot is on the outer crater wall not too far from the parking lot. These moai are more than half buried- a person on the left only spans the distance between the chin and the bottom of the nose.
| Rano Raraku- Inside the Crater
This view is on the inside of the crater wall. It's an easy hike, as are all the hikes on the island because there is not a lot of vertical relief in the terrain. These moai are facing the lake in the crater. Click on the image to the right for a full view. |
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Back on the outside of the crater, here's some more of a different style of moai- taller and thinner, and with long ears- see the fellow in the front. |
| On the inside of the crater in a little "cove" is this
creature. I was lucky to catch this lady walking past to give a
sense of scale. I've no idea who she is- I hope she doesn't mind
this flattering photo...
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All images ©2000 by Jeffrey L. Cooper
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