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世界의
놀라운風景
(32) 이스터
섬 과 (Easter Island)
석상(Moai)
칠 레
칠레에서 서쪽으로 3,700km 떨어진 태평양 동부에 있는 화산섬
세모꼴 화산섬인 이스터섬의 길이는 동서 15㎞ 남북 10㎞.
거제도 면적의 3분의 1을 조금 넘는다.
고립무원의 외딴 섬에는 사람 얼굴 모양을 한 '모아이Moai)'라고 불리는
거대 석상들이 흩어져 있다.
이스터섬이 전 세계의 주목을 받게 된 것은 바로
인간의 형상을 하고 있는
커다란 돌로 만든 Moai(石像)遺跡
때문이다
섬에는 모두 897개의 모아이가 있다
석상들은 높이가 3~12m이며, 무게가 50t 이상되는 것들도 있다.
가장 최근의 고고학 연구자료에서 석상들의 대부분이
중세시대인 1000~1700년에 세워졌다는 사실이
알려지고있다
석상들 가운데 어느 것도 그 목적이나 의미가 밝혀지지 않았다.
원주민들이 조상을 기리기 위한 비석이나 기념물 정도로 추정될 뿐이다.
1888년 칠레는 이 섬을 합병한 뒤 섬의 대부분을 양사육에 대여했다.
칠레는 이스터 섬 전체를 중요한 역사적 유적지로
지정해놓고 있다.
공항이 있고, 칠레의 산티아고에서
출발하는 항공 편이 이 공항을 경유한다.
포장도로가 적어서 말과 4륜마차가 이용되며, 작은 호텔들이 있다.
면적 163㎢, 인구
3,618 (2000).
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