This huge reclining monolith is still attached by its keel. Notice the man standing in the upper right of the picture for scale.

Easter Island is the site of one of the World's first human-caused ecological disasters. Once, the island was covered with lush vegetation and palm forests. All the trees were destroyed and used to move the massive monoliths from their birthplace on this mountain, to the shoreline. Eventually no trees remained to build or repair their boats and the people began to starve.

The social order broke down and by the 1800's the population had dropped to 111. Disease, slavery, and cannibalism all but destroyed their society and all the monoliths (moai) had been torn down my the islanders themselves.

All the statues now standing are the result of recent archaeological efforts.

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