Easter Island (Isla de Pascua), or to use its Polynesian names, Rapa Nui (Large Island) or Te Pita Te Henua (Navel of the World), is the most isolated island in the Pacific and one of the most isolated islands in the world. It lies at 27°8′5W, some 3700 km (2300 miles) W of the coast of Chile and 2500 km (1400 miles) E of the nearest inhabited island (Pitcairn). The island is administered by the Republic of Chile, although the inhabitants are basically Polynesian. Until very recently, it was visited only once a year by a supply ship from Chile; the trip took 9–10 days from Valparaiso. At the present time there is regular air service from Santiago, Chile.
The area is about 130 km2 (50 sq mi). Its climate is subtropical. There is a scarcity of freshwater since the island has no streams and there is dependence on the moderate rainfall that collects in the extinct volcanic crater lake of Rano Raraku (volcanic crater lake) Rano Raraku.
The island is of volcanic origin and owes its...
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Richards, H.G. (1975). Easter Island and Sala y gÓmez. In: World Regional Geology. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31081-1_43
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31081-1_43
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