Download or read book DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Chile and Easter Island written by DK Travel and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2018-02-20 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An unbeatable guide to the diverse landscape, history, and activities in Chile and Easter Island, from touring Chilean vineyards and stargazing in the Atacama Desert, to exploring the glaciers of the Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia and admiring Rapa Nui's moai statues. This guide is packed with photos and maps, insider tips, useful advice, and information. You'll find listings for a variety of authentic restaurants and a guide to where to stay in Santiago and the rest of the country, including the best boutique hotels that Chile has to offer. Unique illustrations, stunning photography, and detailed maps make this guide the essential companion to your trip to the country. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Chile & Easter Island truly shows you this city as no one else can.
Download or read book DK Eyewitness Travel Guide written by Dorling Kindersley Publishing and published by Dorling Kindersley Ltd. This book was released on 2011-03 with total page 355 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The uniquely visual DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Chile & Easter Island is your indispensible guide to the best that Chile has to offer. This fully updated guide includes unique cutaways, floorplans and reconstructions of all the major sites, plus street-by-street maps of all the fascinating cities and towns of Chile. The new-look guide is also packed with photographs and illustrations leading you straight to the best attractions this diverse country has to offer. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Chile & Easter Island will help you discover Chile and Easter Island region by region; from the majestic sights of Rano Raraku on Easter Island to the beautiful wine regions and national parks. Detailed listings will guide you to the best hotels, restaurants, bars and shops for all budgets, whilst detailed practical information will help you to get around, whether by train, car or ferry. Plus, DK Eyewitness Travel�s excellent insider tips will get you under the skin of the country, from finding a boutique hotel in Valparaiso to a wine tasting tour in the Casablanca valley. The DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Chile & Easter Island - shows you what others only tell you.
Download or read book DK Eyewitness Chile and Easter Island written by DK Eyewitness and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2020-07-21 with total page 512 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Your journey starts here. Featuring DK's much-loved maps and illustrations, walks and information, plus all new, full-color photography, this 100% updated guide to Chile and Easter Island brings you the best of this beautiful country in a brand-new, lightweight format. What's inside? - full-color photography, hand-drawn illustrations, and maps throughout - easy-to-follow walks, drives, and itineraries - our pick of Chile's must-sees, top experiences, and hidden gems - insider tips and information: when to visit, how to avoid the crowds, where to capture the perfect photo, and more - the best spots to eat, drink, shop, and stay - an area-by-area guide covering each corner of Chile, from the Norte Grande to Santiago, Southern Patagonia to Easter Island - expert advice: get ready, get around, and stay safe Now in paperback and printed on quality lightweight paper, our Chile and Easter Island travel guide has been redesigned with you, the traveller, in mind, so you can take it wherever you go. Travelling around South America? Try our DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Argentina and DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Peru. DK Eyewitness is the bronze award-winning travel guidebook series as voted by the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 2019.
Download or read book DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Sicily written by DK Travel and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2017-05-16 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Visit and explore Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and stop by Valle dei Templi, hike Mount Etna, and eat authentic caponata. Discover DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Sicily. + Detailed itineraries and "don't-miss" destination highlights at a glance. + Illustrated cutaway 3-D drawings of important sights. + Floor plans and guided visitor information for major museums. + Guided walking tours, local drink and dining specialties to try, things to do, and places to eat, drink, and shop by area. + Area maps marked with sights. + Detailed city maps include street finder indexes for easy navigation. + Insights into history and culture to help you understand the stories behind the sights. + Hotel and restaurant listings highlight DK Choice special recommendations. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Sicily truly shows you the country as no one else can. Recommended: For a pocket guidebook to Sicily, check out DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Top 10 Sicily, which is packed with dozens of top 10 lists, ensuring you make the most of your time and experience the best of everything.
Download or read book DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Chile Easter Island written by and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2013-07-01 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Chile & Easter Island is your indispensable guide to this beautiful part of the world. This fully updated guide includes street maps of cities and towns, plus unique illustrated cutaways, floor plans and reconstructions of the must-see sights. Vibrant full-color photography will help you visualize your destinations as you discover Chile and Easter Island one region at a time. Detailed listings will inform you of the best hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops for all budgets. Explore local festivals and markets, day trips and excursions, gorgeous beaches and national parks, and find your way effortlessly around the region. DK's insider tips and cultural insight will help you explore every corner of Chile and Easter Island, as if you were a local. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Chile & Easter Island-showing you what others only tell you. Now available in PDF format.
Download or read book DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Chile Easter Island written by Dorling Kindersley and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2011-03-01 with total page 355 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Let this lavishly illustrated guide whet your appetite and show you the best that Chile has to offer - with cutaways and floor plans of all the major sites, tours of the spectacular national parks, and the majestic sights of Rano Raraku on Easter Island. Sample the flavor of the country region by region, with comprehensive listings of hotels and restaurants. Find out all you need for sights, markets, and festivals listed town by town, from a boutique hotel in Valparaiso to a wine tasting tour in the Casablanca valley. And with a section on the many outdoor activities that Chile has to offer, this is a guide not to be missed.
Download or read book Fodor s Essential Chile written by Fodor's Travel Guides and published by Fodor's Travel. This book was released on 2018-07-10 with total page 506 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Written by local experts, Fodor's travel guides have been offering advice and professionally vetted recommendations for all tastes and budgets for 80 years. Squeezed between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Chile offers something for everyone. Whether travelers are interested in first-rate vineyards, glittery beach resorts, desert adventures, sprawling glaciers, or the urban pleasures and inventive cuisine of Santiago, Fodor's Chile helps them craft the perfect itinerary for this diverse country. This travel guide includes: •UP-TO-DATE COVERAGE: New restaurant and hotel listings have been added throughout to keep pace with the latest developments in this rapidly evolving country. •ULTIMATE EXPERIENCES GUIDE contains a brief introduction and spectacular color photos that capture the ultimate experiences and attractions throughout New Orleans •SPECIAL FEATURES: Chile is one of the most geographically diverse destinations on earth, and Fodor's Chile helps travelers explore the varied regions with special sections on Patagonian and Antarctic cruises, fly fishing, top beaches, and regional itineraries. •INDISPENSABLE TRIP PLANNING TOOLS: Each chapter opens with an orientation spread and planner that includes a map, short descriptions of each region, "Top Reasons to Go," and information on getting here and around. Top Experiences, ample tour options, and sample itineraries make it easy for travelers to plan a vacation to Chile. •DISCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS: Fodor's Chile offers savvy advice and recommendations from local writers to help travelers make the most of their visit. Fodor's Choice designates our best picks in every category. •COVERS: Santiago, Valparaiso, Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park, San Pedro de Atacama, Chiloé, Easter Island, Viña del Mar, the Chilean wine valleys, and more.
Download or read book Island at the End of the World written by Steven Roger Fischer and published by Reaktion Books. This book was released on 2006-06-01 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On a long stretch of green coast in the South Pacific, hundreds of enormous, impassive stone heads stand guard against the ravages of time, war, and disease that have attempted over the centuries to conquer Easter Island. Steven Roger Fischer offers the first English-language history of Easter Island in Island at the End of the World, a fascinating chronicle of adversity, triumph, and the enduring monumentality of the island's stone guards. A small canoe with Polynesians brought the first humans to Easter Island in 700 CE, and when boat travel in the South Pacific drastically decreased around 1500, the Easter Islanders were forced to adapt in order to survive their isolation. Adaptation, Fischer asserts, was a continuous thread in the life of Easter Island: the first European visitors, who viewed the awe-inspiring monolithic busts in 1722, set off hundreds of years of violent warfare, trade, and disease—from the smallpox, wars, and Great Death that decimated the island to the late nineteenth-century Catholic missionaries who tried to "save" it to a despotic Frenchman who declared sole claim of the island and was soon killed by the remaining 111 islanders. The rituals, leaders, and religions of the Easter Islanders evolved with all of these events, and Fischer is just as attentive to the island's cultural developments as he is to its foreign invasions. Bringing his history into the modern era, Fischer examines the colonization and annexation of Easter Island by Chile, including the Rapanui people's push for civil rights in 1964 and 1965, by which they gained full citizenship and freedom of movement on the island. As travel to and interest in the island rapidly expand, Island at the End of the World is an essential history of this mysterious site.
Download or read book DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Chile Easter Island written by and published by Dorling Kindersley Ltd. This book was released on 2013-07-01 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The DK Eyewitness Chile & Easter Island Travel Guide is your indispensable guide to this beautiful part of the world. The fully updated guide includes unique cutaways, floorplans and reconstructions of the must-see sites, plus street-by-street maps of all the fascinating cities and towns. The new-look guide is also packed with photographs and illustrations leading you straight to the best attractions on offer. The uniquely visual DK Eyewitness Travel guide will help you to discover everything region-by-region; from local festivals and markets to day trips around the countryside. Detailed listings will guide you to the best hotels, restaurants, bars and shops for all budgets, whilst detailed practical information will help you to get around, whether by train, bus or car. Plus, DK's excellent insider tips and essential local information will help you explore every corner of Chile & Easter Island effortlessly. DK Eyewitness Chile & Easter Island Travel Guide - showing you what others only tell you.
Download or read book DK Eyewitness Peru written by DK Eyewitness and published by Dorling Kindersley Ltd. This book was released on 2022-11-17 with total page 460 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Whether you want to chow down on deliciously fresh ceviche in Lima, descend into the wildlife-filled Amazon, or take the trail to Machu Picchu, your DK Eyewitness travel guide makes sure you experience all that Peru has to offer. With its scorched coastal deserts, steamy jungles and snow-capped mountains, Peru is blessed with beautiful scenery. These spectacular landscapes are an adventurer's playground, too, offering everything from hiking to biking and more. Beyond this lie ancient Inca cities, charming old-world towns and some of the most mouthwatering food in all of South America. Our updated 2022 travel guide brings Peru to life, transporting you there like no other travel guide does with expert-led insights, trusted travel advice, detailed breakdowns of all the must-see sights, photographs on practically every page, and our hand-drawn illustrations which place you inside the country's iconic buildings and neighbourhoods. DK Eyewitness Peru is your ticket to the trip of a lifetime. Inside DK Eyewitness Peru you will find: - A fully-illustrated top experiences guide: our expert pick of Peru's must-sees and hidden gems - Accessible itineraries to make the most out of each and every day - Expert advice: honest recommendations for getting around safely, when to visit each sight, what to do before you visit, and how to save time and money - Colour-coded chapters to every part of Peru, from Cusco to the Central Sierra, Cordillera Blanca to the Amazon Basin - Practical tips: the best places to eat, drink, shop and stay - Detailed maps and walks to help you navigate the region country easily and confidently - Covers: Central Lima, Miraflores and San Isidro, Barranco, Beyond the Center, The Southern Coast Arequipa, Canyons and Lake Titicaca, Cusco and the Sacred Valley, Central Sierra, Cordillera Blanca, The Northern Desert, The Northern Highlands, The Amazon Basin About DK Eyewitness: At DK Eyewitness, we believe in the power of discovery. We make it easy for you to explore your dream destinations. DK Eyewitness travel guides have been helping travellers to make the most of their breaks since 1993. Filled with expert advice, striking photography and detailed illustrations, our highly visual DK Eyewitness guides will get you closer to your next adventure. We publish guides to more than 200 destinations, from pocket-sized city guides to comprehensive country guides. Named Top Guidebook Series at the 2020 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards, we know that wherever you go next, your DK Eyewitness travel guides are the perfect companion.
Download or read book DK Eyewitness Chile and Easter Island written by DK. Eyewitness and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Your journey starts here. Featuring DK's much-loved maps and illustrations, walks and information, plus all new, full-color photography, this 100% updated guide to Chile and Easter Island brings you the best of this beautiful country in a brand-new, lightweight format.What's inside? - full-color photography, hand-drawn illustrations, and maps throughout- easy-to-follow walks, drives, and itineraries- our pick of Chile's must-sees, top experiences, and hidden gems- insider tips and information: when to visit, how to avoid the crowds, where to capture the perfect photo, and more- the best spots to eat, drink, shop, and stay- an area-by-area guide covering each corner of Chile, from the Norte Grande to Santiago, Southern Patagonia to Easter Island - expert advice: get ready, get around, and stay safeNow in paperback and printed on quality lightweight paper, our Chile and Easter Island travel guide has been redesigned with you, the traveller, in mind, so you can take it wherever you go. Travelling around South America? Try our DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Argentina and DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Peru. DK Eyewitness is the bronze award-winning travel guidebook series as voted by the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 2019.
Download or read book The Rough Guide to Chile Easter Islands Travel Guide eBook written by Anna Kaminski and published by Apa Publications (UK) Limited. This book was released on 2018-09-01 with total page 748 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Discover this dazzling, diverse South American country with the liveliest and most comprehensive guidebook on the market. Whether you plan to sail around the glaciers of Patagonia or soak your bones in volcanic hot springs, taste wines in the picturesque Maule Valley or wonder at the mysterious Easter Island, The Rough Guide to Chile and Easter Island will show you the ideal places to sleep, eat, drink, shop and visit along the way. -Independent, trusted reviews written with Rough Guides' trademark blend of humour, honesty and insight, to help you get the most out of your visit, with options to suit every budget. - Full-colour chapter maps throughout - so you can explore Torres del Paine National Park or the lively towns of Santiago and Valparai so without needing to get online. - Stunning images - arich collection of inspiring colour photography. - Things not to miss- Rough Guides' rundown ofthe best sights and experiences in Chile and Easter Island. - Itineraries- carefully planned routes to help you organize your trip. - Detailed coverage- this travel guide has in-depth practical advice for every step of the way. Areas covered include: Santiago, Valparaiso, Elqui Valley, Atacama Desert, Iquique, Parque Nacional Lauca, Chiloe, Pucon, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, Puerto Williams, Easter Island, Parque Nacional Patagonia, Parque Nacional Pumalin, Carretera Austral, Futaleufu Attractions include: Travelling though the otherworldly landscapes of the Atacama Desert, Visiting the former homes of Pablo Neruda: Isla Negra, La Chascona and La Sebastiana, Sampling the nightlife in historic Valparaiso, Exploring the culture and myths of Chiloe, Sailing through the Beagle Channel in Tierra del Fuego, Spotting the moai statues of Easter Island, Wine tasting in the Central Valley, Hiking- and ice hiking - in Torres del Paine, Visiting the San Rafael Glacier, Stargazing in the Elqui Valley, Driving the Carretera Austral, Hiking in Parque Nacional Patagonia, World-class white water rafting on the Futaleufu Basics - essential pre-departure practical information including getting there, local transport, accommodation, food and drink, festivals and events,sports and outdoor activities, national parks, shopping and more. Background information- a Contexts chapter devoted to history, landscape and the environment, recommended books, music and Chilean Spanish. Make the Most of YourTime on Earth with The Rough Guide to Chile and Easter Island. About Rough Guides : Escape the everyday with Rough Guides. We are a leading travel publisher known for our "tell it like itis" attitude, up-to-date content and great writing. Since 1982, we've published books covering more than 120 destinations around the globe, with anever-growing series of ebooks, a range of beautiful, inspirational reference titles, and an award-winning website. We pride ourselves on our accurate,honest and informed travel guides.
Download or read book A Companion to Easter Island written by James Grant Peterkin and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 166 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book DK Eyewitness Argentina written by DK Eyewitness and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2017-02-21 with total page 350 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Argentina is your indispensable guide to this beautiful part of the world. The fully updated guide includes unique cutaways, floor plans and reconstructions of the must-see sites, plus street-by-street maps of all the fascinating cities and towns. The new-look guide is also packed with photographs and illustrations leading you straight to the best attractions on offer, whether you're planning trips to the elegant, modern capital of Buenos Aires, spectacularly scenic Patagonia, or rich wine country of Mendoza. The uniquely visual DK Eyewitness Travel Guide will help you to discover everything region-by-region, from the best milonga — a place for dancing and listening to tango — in Buenos Aires, to the best horseback riding in the pampas, and the best parrilla (steakhouse) in every region of the country. Detailed listings will guide you to the best hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops for all budgets, while detailed practical information will help you to get around, whether by train, bus, or car. Plus, DK's excellent insider tips and essential local information will help you explore every corner of Argentina effortlessly. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that brighten every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Argentina truly shows you this country as no one else can.
Download or read book DK Brazil written by DK Travel and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2023-11-28 with total page 601 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Energetic cities, lush rainforests and more diverse wildlife than anywhere else on Earth – this is Brazil. Whether you want to spot jaguars on the Paraguay river, tuck into regional dishes in São Paulo or party all day at Rio de Janeiro's Carnival your DK Eyewitness travel guide makes sure you experience all that Brazil has to offer. From the Amazon jungle to the immense Iguaçu Falls, South America’s largest country is packed with natural wonders. But it’s not all about white-sand beaches and tropical wetlands. Across Brazil, metropolises pulsate with music, restaurants serve the freshest food and museums invite visitors to examine the past and ponder the future. Our updated 2023 travel guide brings Brazil to life. DK Eyewitness Brazil is your ticket to the trip of a lifetime. Inside DK Eyewitness Brazil you will find: -A fully-illustrated top experiences guide: our expert pick of Brazil’s must-sees and hidden gems. -Accessible itineraries to make the most out of each and every day. -Expert advice: honest recommendations for getting around safely, when to visit each sight, what to do before you visit, and how to save time and money. -Color-coded chapters to every part of Brazil, from the Amazon to the Rio Grande do Sul, Salvador to São Paulo State. -Practical tips: the best places to eat, drink, shop and stay. -Detailed maps and walks to help you navigate the region country easily and confidently. -Covers: Janeiro Centro, Santa Teresa and Lapa, Ipanema and Copacabana, Flamengo and Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo Sao Paulo City, Sao Paulo State, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná Brasília, Goiás, and Tocantins Mato Grosso and Mato, Grosso Sul, Salvador, Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas and Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará, Piauí and Maranhao, The Amazon. Only visiting Rio de Janeiro? Try our DK Eyewitness Top 10 Rio de Janeiro
Download or read book Chile and Easter Island DK Eyewitness Travel Guide written by DK Travel and published by . This book was released on 2018-01-04 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The ideal travel companion, full of insider advice on what to see and do, plus detailed itineraries and comprehensive maps for exploring this breathtakingly beautiful country. Tour picturesque Chilean vineyards, stargaze in the Atacama Desert, explore the glaciers of the Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia or admire Rapa Nui's moai statues- everything you need to know is clearly laid out within colour-coded chapters. Discover the best of Chile and Easter Island with this indispensable travel guide. Inside DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Chile and Easter Island- - Over 35 colour mapshelp you navigate with ease - Simple layoutmakes it easy to find the information you need - Comprehensive tours and itineraries of Chile and Easter Island, designed for every interest and budget - Illustrations and floorplansdetail iconic sights such as Santiago's fascinating Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino and leafy Parque Metropolitano de Santiago, the unusual Casa Museo Isla Negra, the breathtaking Rano Raraku and more - Colour photographsof Chile's colonial cities, historic architecture, museums and art galleries, ancient settlements, colourful towns and villages, natural wonders and spectacular landscapes - including mountains, glaciers, geysers, beaches, lakes, volcanoes, and flora and fauna - as well as Easter Island's fascinating archaeological sites, mysterious monuments, crater lakes, plus nearby Robinson Crusoe Island, with its dramatic volcanic landscape and endemic flora and fauna - Detailed chapters, with area maps, cover Santiago, including Plaza de Armas and Santiago Centro, West of Santiago Centro, Northeast of Santiago Centro; Chile beyond the capital, including Central Valley, Norte Grande and Norte Chico, Lake District and ChiloU, Northern Patagonia, Southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego; Easter Island and Robinson Crusoe Island - Historical and cultural context gives you a richer travel experience-learn about the country's rich history and culture, iconic architecture, ancient settlements, festivals and events, and more - Experience Chile and Easter Island with features on the landscape and wildlife, the biodiversity of Chile, peoples of Chile and Easter Island, music and dance, literature, theatre and cinema, Chilean art and architecture, sports in Chile, Fiestas Patrias, funiculars of ValparaYso, history of wine in Chile, regional arts and crafts, pukaras and the Camino del Inca, myths and folklore of ChiloU, and more - Essential travel tips- our expert choices of where to stay, eat, shop and sightsee, plus how to get around, useful phrases, and visa and health information. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Chile and Easter Islandis a detailed, easy-to-use guide designed to help you get the most from your visit to Chile and Easter Island. DK Eyewitness- winner of the Top Guidebook Series in the Wanderlus
Download or read book The Statues that Walked written by Terry Hunt and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2011-06-21 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The monumental statues of Easter Island, both so magisterial and so forlorn, gazing out in their imposing rows over the island’s barren landscape, have been the source of great mystery ever since the island was first discovered by Europeans on Easter Sunday 1722. How could the ancient people who inhabited this tiny speck of land, the most remote in the vast expanse of the Pacific islands, have built such monumental works? No such astonishing numbers of massive statues are found anywhere else in the Pacific. How could the islanders possibly have moved so many multi-ton monoliths from the quarry inland, where they were carved, to their posts along the coastline? And most intriguing and vexing of all, if the island once boasted a culture developed and sophisticated enough to have produced such marvelous edifices, what happened to that culture? Why was the island the Europeans encountered a sparsely populated wasteland? The prevailing accounts of the island’s history tell a story of self-inflicted devastation: a glaring case of eco-suicide. The island was dominated by a powerful chiefdom that promulgated a cult of statue making, exercising a ruthless hold on the island’s people and rapaciously destroying the environment, cutting down a lush palm forest that once blanketed the island in order to construct contraptions for moving more and more statues, which grew larger and larger. As the population swelled in order to sustain the statue cult, growing well beyond the island’s agricultural capacity, a vicious cycle of warfare broke out between opposing groups, and the culture ultimately suffered a dramatic collapse. When Terry Hunt and Carl Lipo began carrying out archaeological studies on the island in 2001, they fully expected to find evidence supporting these accounts. Instead, revelation after revelation uncovered a very different truth. In this lively and fascinating account of Hunt and Lipo’s definitive solution to the mystery of what really happened on the island, they introduce the striking series of archaeological discoveries they made, and the path-breaking findings of others, which led them to compelling new answers to the most perplexing questions about the history of the island. Far from irresponsible environmental destroyers, they show, the Easter Islanders were remarkably inventive environmental stewards, devising ingenious methods to enhance the island’s agricultural capacity. They did not devastate the palm forest, and the culture did not descend into brutal violence. Perhaps most surprising of all, the making and moving of their enormous statutes did not require a bloated population or tax their precious resources; their statue building was actually integral to their ability to achieve a delicate balance of sustainability. The Easter Islanders, it turns out, offer us an impressive record of masterful environmental management rich with lessons for confronting the daunting environmental challenges of our own time. Shattering the conventional wisdom, Hunt and Lipo’s ironclad case for a radically different understanding of the story of this most mysterious place is scientific discovery at its very best.
