B) Visit two places of interest
-Write a paragraph describing the place -Purpose of the monument or location -Importance
07.12.2009
In Chile, I will first visit Easter Island. I come here to see the mysterious statues or "moai". These statues are known in Polynesian language. The climate here is sub-tropical, about 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This island is one of the most isolated inhabited islands in the world. There are hundreds of these mysterious statues across the whole island, but are still unknown til this day why or when they came to the Easter Island. The local people here are either of the Polynesian or Inca origin. I'm not sure. Some people may think they are of the Polynesian origin and some others say that the people originally came from South America. The Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl sailed westward from Peru to prove that South Americans may have settled the island, but recent archeological studies have convincing evidence that the island's early inhabitants were all of Polynesian origin. As seen on the island there is some evidence to support Thor Heyerdahl's claim, at least one Ahu,foundation. Machu Picchu has the same shape of rocks as the Ahu of Moai. The Peruvian people may haven't settled here, although they may have visited the island and spread their knowledge of building walls and foundations. Easter Island became Easter Island when three Dutch ships arrived Rapa Nui on Easter Sunday 1722 to map this place under this christian name. The locals call it Rapa Nui, and the Spanish know it as Isla de Pascua. A fun fact is that UNESCO is inscribed Rapa Nui National Park, which covers the vast majority of the island as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1996. Another and more fun fact is that the moai are made of a soft rock called tuff, which is quite weak. Some activities that I would like to participate in are Tapati Rapa Nui and visiting the Archaeological Museum.
Now I would like to visit the Torres del Paine National Park as my second place because it seems appropriate for tourists and seems like it would be fun. This national park is named after the 2000 meters tall granite pillars that take much of the landscape of the park. Other than these pillars, there are towers where glaciers, lakes, waterfalls and wildlife. There are also hikes available. This park is roughly located 112 kilometers north of Puerto Natales and 312 north of Punta Arenas. The cost is $14, us dollars, per person from October through April and $7, us dollars, per person from May to September for foreign visitors. Chileans pay less.
