Te Pito Kura is an archeological complex located close to La Pérouse bay, two kilometer southeast of Ovahe beach. In this ceremonial center the Ahu O Paro is located, with its lonely Moai also called Paro, which is still in the same position from when it was knocked down almost two centuries ago.
The moai Paro represents a huge achievement for the period when the Moai were being carved, this is the biggest Moai that was transported from the Rano Raraku quarry and successfully set over an Ahu. Its dimensions are spectacular: its ears measure 2 meters; its height is almost 10 meters and its weight is estimated in 80 tons.
The Moai Paro is now in the floor and its body is broken in two from when it was knocked down. In front of its head you can see its giant Pukao, which measures around 2 meters tall and has an estimated weight of 10 tons, it’s also considered the biggest ever carved and transported from the Puna Pau quarry.
Rapa Nui emerged between 3.000.000 and 200.000 years ago from the bottom of the ocean when submarine volcanic cones, product of the movement of the tectonic plates, formed mountains as high as 3.000 meters. Part of these volcanic cones is what we now know as Rapa Nui, with a triangle shape and an area of 166km. From the ancient volcanos of the island, Rano Raraku and Rana Kau are two of the most visited craters. Poike, which is the oldest volcano is located on the East corner while Terevaka, the highest peak with 507 meters over sea level, is located in the middle of the island.