Moai statues on Easter Island, Chile

© Karine Aigner/Tandem Stills + Motio

Big rocks, big heads, still counting?. Moai statues on Easter Island, Chile

Today we're looking at something you may have heard about before—the famous Moai statues on Chile's remote Easter Island. These big-headed statues were carved out of volcanic ashes by the Rapa Nui people, between the years 1250 and 1500, and there are nearly 1,000 such statues on the island. Archeologists believe they were meant to honour Rapa Nui’s ancestors and were the epitome of power and authority. All but seven of the statues face away from the surrounding Pacific Ocean and instead look inward towards the villages as if positioned to watch protectively over the Rapa Nui. Did you know that the tallest moai erected was referred to as Paro, was 33 feet high? Well, now you know!