Easter Island (Polynesian: Rapa Nui; Spanish: Isla de Pascua) is an island in the South Pacific belonging to Chile. The name "Easter Island" derives from its rediscovery by a Dutch explorer on Easter Sunday in 1722.
Located in the South Pacific between Chile and Tahiti, Easter Island is one of the most isolated inhabited islands in the world. The nearest inhabited land is Pitcairn Island, located 2,075 km (1,290 miles) to the west. The triangular-shaped island covers only 64 square miles and was formed out of an ancient volcanic eruption.
Easter Island is famous for its tight-lipped statues that stand across the island. Exactly why and how the people of Rapa Nui assembled these ancient wonders is not fully understood.