Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui
History of Yasmin Lima - Ceara, Brasil
Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, is located in the south Pacific Ocean, 3,700 km off the west coast of Chile. Famous for its stone statues, the moais, it is part of the Valparaíso Region and its official languages are Spanish and Rapanui. Colonized by Polynesians, its occupation dates back to around 900 AD. The island was discovered by Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen in 1722. During European colonization in 1888, it was annexed by Chile, becoming a sheep farm. The natives were enslaved, but only in 1966 were they recognized as Chilean citizens. Easter Island, triangular in shape and volcanic, has challenging topography and a climate that limits sources of food and drinking water. Currently, tourism drives the island's economy.