Rapa Nui (also called Easter Island for tourists) is famous for its Moai statues. They stand with their backs to the sea and most archaeologists believe they represent the spirits of ancestors, leaders or other high-ranking men who held important positions in Rapa Nui's history. Ahu Tongariki is the largest site of all, having been swept inland by a tsunami in 1960. It has since been restored and has 15 Moai, including one that weighs 86 tonnes, the heaviest ever erected on the island.
Many theories have been formed over the years about where the original inhabitants came from, why they built these statues, how they transported them and why the people who made them eventually died. It will probably forever remain a mystery....
It is a favourite place to see sunrises, and these photos'll show you why!