Rano Kau, Shield volcano in Rapa Nui Commune, Chile.
Rano Kau is a shield volcano on Rapa Nui with a crater stretching over one kilometer across that holds a freshwater lake with small floating islands made of totora reed. The crater walls drop steeply toward the ocean, forming dramatic cliffs that fall away to the sea below.
The volcanic formation developed during the Pleistocene through basaltic lava flows, with the youngest rocks dating between 150,000 and 210,000 years ago. This ancient geological activity fundamentally shaped the island's landscape.
The ceremonial village of Orongo sits where the crater rim meets the inner wall, filled with petroglyphs and stone structures from earlier times. This location reveals how Rapa Nui people gathered to perform important rituals at this sacred spot.
Access is available through guided tours or independent transport from the main settlement of Hanga Roa. Good footwear and caution are necessary due to steep slopes and cliff edges throughout the area.
The crater walls angled between 45 and 65 degrees create a microclimate that supports fig trees and vines found nowhere else on the island. These unusual plants thrive only within this specific geological shelter.
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