Eroding Away

Easter Island, known as Rapa Nui (RAH-puh NOO-ee) to its inhabitants, is one of the most remote places on Earth. The tiny volcanic island is part of the South American country of Chile, located 3,540 kilometers (2,200 miles) away. It was formed by underwater volcanoes that erupted over hundreds of thousands of years. Those eruptions built up layers of hardened lava that rose above the surface, forming land.

A group of Polynesians, also called the Rapa Nui, settled the island around 800 a.d. and thrived there for hundreds of years. During that time, teams of stoneworkers cut large blocks of volcanic stone. They transformed the rock into massive moai that still dot the island. The largest of these statues once stood nearly 20 meters (66 feet) tall. Today, many are buried up to the shoulder under centuries of dirt.

Easter Island is known as Rapa Nui (RAH-puh NOO-ee) to the local people. The tiny island is one of the most remote places on Earth. It’s part of the South American country of Chile, located 3,540 kilometers (2,200 miles) away. It was formed by underwater volcanoes that erupted over hundreds of thousands of years. Those eruptions built up layers of hardened lava. The layers finally rose above the surface to form land.

A group of Polynesians moved to the island around 800 A.D. They were also called the Rapa Nui, and they did well there for hundreds of years. During that time, teams of stoneworkers cut large blocks of volcanic stone. They turned the rock into huge moai. These statues still dot the island. The largest one stood nearly 20 meters (66 feet) tall. Today, many are buried up to the shoulder under centuries of dirt.

By the late 1800s, most of the Rapa Nui people were gone. European explorers introduced diseases when they arrived in the 1700s that killed many of the locals. South American slave traders followed, kidnapping many of the island’s inhabitants. But some descendants of the Rapa Nui people remain.

“The statues are both a physical reminder of their ancestry and a living connection with their ancestors,” says Torres. “They can keep in contact and interact with them, asking questions, sharing food, or just chatting as they would with any other member of the family.”

But these statues may not survive forever. Many sit next to the ocean, which puts them at risk (see Remaining Moai). Someday soon, much of the land on which the moai stand may fall into the sea.

By the late 1800s, most of the Rapa Nui people were gone. European explorers arrived in the 1700s. They brought diseases that killed many of the locals. South American slave traders followed. They kidnapped many of the island’s people. But some descendants of the Rapa Nui people remain.

“The statues are both a physical reminder of their ancestry and a living connection with their ancestors,” says Torres. “They can keep in contact and interact with them, asking questions, sharing food, or just chatting as they would with any other member of the family.”

But these statues may not survive forever. Many sit next to the ocean, and that puts them at risk (see Remaining Moai). Much of the land beneath the moai may fall into the sea. And it could happen someday soon.

Rapa Nui is always changing. Day and night, waves roll across the Pacific Ocean and crash into the island’s rocky shoreline. The resulting erosion affects the island’s geography.

When a wave smacks against the island, it transfers its energy into the shore. Over time, that force can cause cliffs to crack and break. Tiny stones, sand, and other sediment in the waves also rub against the rocks, wearing them down like sandpaper wears down wood.

Rapa Nui is always changing. Waves roll across the Pacific Ocean, day and night. They crash into the island’s rocky shoreline. This causes erosion that affects the island’s geography.

When a wave hits the island, its energy passes into the shore. That force can cause cliffs to crack and break over time. The waves hold tiny stones, sand, and other sediment. These also rub against the rocks. They wear the rocks down like sandpaper wears down wood.

Some erosion is inevitable, but the problem is getting worse because of climate change, says Jane Downes. She’s an archaeologist at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland who has studied erosion on Rapa Nui. Rising temperatures are causing Earth’s glaciers and ice sheets to melt, adding water to the oceans, she says. Seawater also expands as it gets warmer, contributing to higher sea levels.

Scientists like Downes fear that higher sea levels will cause more erosion as waves are able to reach farther up on Rapa Nui’s shores. Making matters worse, “storms are increasing in frequency and in power,” she adds. That’s because the changing climate is altering weather patterns around the world. More intense storms could flood many parts of the island. In some cases, moai in low-lying areas may even be carried away by the surging seas.

Some erosion is sure to happen. But climate change is making the problem worse, says Jane Downes. She’s an archaeologist at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland, and she has studied erosion on Rapa Nui. Rising temperatures are causing Earth’s glaciers and ice sheets to melt. That adds water to the oceans, she says. Seawater also expands as it gets warmer. That makes sea levels rise even more.

With higher sea levels, waves will reach farther up on Rapa Nui’s shores. Scientists like Downes fear that this will cause more erosion. Making matters worse, “storms are increasing in frequency and in power,” she adds. That’s because the changing climate is affecting weather patterns around the world. Stronger storms could flood many parts of the island. The rushing seas could even carry away some moai in low-lying areas.

The Rapa Nui people are leading the charge to preserve their heritage, says Torres. Members of the community make up a large part of the council that manages the island’s national park, which is home to many historical sites.

“Today we are working on the management plan for the whole island, trying to assess the state of conservation of the different structures and sites,” says Torres. Some plans involve building physical barriers between the sea and archaeological sites. Others call for moving the moai, although that could destroy their cultural meaning. Mostly, researchers want to record as much as they can in case it disappears.

“All this work is fundamental for the island’s future,” says Torres. Easter Island’s economy is tourism-based. But more important, every inch of it is a record of the people who lived there. “Almost every single stone seems to tell a story of this great culture.”

The Rapa Nui people are leading the charge to save their heritage, says Torres. A national park holds many of the island’s historical sites. Members of the community manage the park.

“Today we are working on the management plan for the whole island, trying to assess the state of conservation of the different structures and sites,” says Torres. Some plans involve building structures to block the sea from archaeological sites. Others call for moving the moai. But that could destroy their cultural meaning. Mostly, researchers want to record as much information as they can in case parts of the island disappear.

“All this work is fundamental for the island’s future,” says Torres. Easter Island’s economy is based on tourism. But something else is more important. Every inch of the island is a record of the people who lived there. “Almost every single stone seems to tell a story of this great culture.”