Rano Raraku Rapa Nui

by Heidi Fickinger

Title

Rano Raraku Rapa Nui

Artist

Heidi Fickinger

Medium

Photograph - Photographic Print

Description

Rano Raraku is the extinct volcanic mountain that is the site where all the mysterious stone moai were quarried on the Island of Rapa Nui.
The original name of this volcano was Maunga Eo, which means “perfumed hill”, since in the past a very aromatic plant grew and its smell permeated the whole area. An ancient legend tells how two young female spirits came to the island attracted by the intense aroma of the place. The name now most used for the mountain derives from the word Rano, which in the Rapanui language refers to volcanoes that have an inner lagoon. It is believed that the term Raraku, which means striped or grooved, refers to the large grooves that the south face of the mountain presents, although it could also be related to the name of an old character who, according to tradition, finished with all the evil spirits of the island murdering them with a moko or wooden lizard.
This is the only place on the Island where the moai were quarried. This mountain is the only one of the four volcanoes on the Island that is made of a softer type of lava that made for easier carving of the stone. The type of rock on the island known as the Lapilli tuff, which is a porous rock formed by the accumulation of volcanic ash ejected during an eruption, which when cooled, in contact with the atmosphere, is compacted and hardened.

Featured in the following FAA Group Galleries:
* Just Perfect
* H D R Photography
* The Global Art Reference
* SkyTwitter Art Gallery
* Arts Fantastic World
* USA Photographers Only
* On the Edge
* Strictly Neon

Uploaded

March 23rd, 2019

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