Stone houses
Windowless.
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A stone ceremonial village on the narrow rim of Rano Kau volcano, of low, round, windowless houses built of flat stone slabs with earth-and-grass roofs and doors so small you can only crawl in. On one side a cliff drops about 300 metres to the ocean. It was the centre of the famous Birdman rite, when young men from the clans raced down the cliff and swam to the islet of Motu Nui to bring back the first sooty-tern egg, the winner granting his chief special standing for a year. Rock carvings of bird-headed men tell the story. On the other side opens the Rano Kau crater, a wide, deep bowl filled by a reed-covered lake, one of the island's finest views. A small visitor centre explains the rite and the village. It can be entered once on the ticket, and the road climbs from Hanga Roa in minutes. The wind is strong on the rim, so keep to the paths.
Windowless.
Bird-headed men.
A reed lake.
Rim of Rano Kau crater, south-western tip of Easter Island
An old race in which clan youths climbed down the cliff and swam to Motu Nui for the first sooty-tern egg, the winner giving his chief standing for a year.