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This is a now rare view of Ahu Tongariti. This site on
Easter Island was the location of the largest of the Easter Island
Ahu. 15 Moai and the platform that supported them framed a view
out to the South Pacific.
In 1960, an earthquake in Chile triggered a tidal wave, which
hit the coast of Easter Island at Tongariki. The tidal wave sent
the 15 Tongariki moai-- some of which weigh 30 tons-- several
hundred feet inland. This view, taken in 1990 shows one of those
moai where it fell. In the background, the quarry of Rano Raraku
where it was born. In 1992 that the site was restored, under the
direction of Chilean archaeologist, Claudio Cristino. The task
took five years and all 15 of the Moai are now standing together
again for the first time in 1000 years. But this unique view is
gone forever.
printed from a 4 x 5 transparency
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