Aku-Aku Eclipse Easter Island July 11th, 2010

Ahu Te Pito Kura

This rock structure along the north coast is called “The Navel of the World”. According to legend, the large central stone was brought to the island by King Hotu Matua with the first settlers around a.d. 450, and that it emits mana (spiritual power) to those who sit on the small rocks and place their hands on it. I'm not so sure about that, but what is certain is that the large rock is weakly magnetised: if you move a compass around its surface, the needle goes crazy.

Inland from the Navel is the Ahu Te Pito Kura platform, with the largest moai ever transported from the quarry and erected on a platform. The moai, almost ten metres tall, has toppled and now lies on its face with its topknot next to it.

This is the back of the platform, facing the sea.

Another toppled moai lies along the back of the platform.

by John Walker July 20th, 2010

This document is in the public domain.