A new moai has been discovered on Easter Island. The 1.60 meter high stone Easter Island statue was found in a dried up lagoon in the crater of a volcano. It is the first time such an image has been discovered in this crater.
The meter-high moai are known for their large heads, among other things. The statue found in February also has “characteristic features”.
A representative of the Ma’u Henua community on the island calls it “an extraordinary find”. The image was discovered because the water level in the lagoon of the Rano Raraku crater has dropped. A team of researchers from three Chilean universities found the image.
In October, hundreds of moais were damaged by a wildfire on Easter Island, home to about 1,000 of these ancient statues. Some statues were “completely scorched” by the fire.
Easter Island is located more than 3,000 kilometers off the coast of Chile. Despite its remote location, tourism is an important source of income for the population. Before the corona pandemic, about 160,000 people visited the island by plane every year. Tourists are welcome again since August.
