Visiting Easter Island (Land-Based)

Moai Quarry at Rano Raraku (continued)

Two views of the craggy cliffs taken from the apex of the volcano. In the right-hand picture, you can see Maunga Pukatikei on the Poike Peninsula in the background.

There was a trail that led to the very highest part of the volcano, to the very top of the craggy cliffs. I followed the trail carefully, crossing grassy areas and scampering up steep rocks. When I reached the top, as you might expect, the view was terrific in all directions. I snapped lots of pictures, but I was hanging on tight while I snapped. The recently inclement weather was still generating strong winds, and at the apex of the volcano I was buffeted by wind gusts. I know this sounds strange, but believe it or not, I thought I could feel the whole top of the volcano rim swaying slightly in the gusty wind. I'm pretty sure this wasn't actually happening, but the sensation was real enough so I hurriedly snapped my pictures and headed down to lower and safer ground.

Two views of a large moai on the side of the volcano.

Several moai on the side of the volcano. The most distant moai is the same moai as in the previous two pictures.		These two moai are the same two moai in the foreground of the left-hand picture.