Chile - Rapa Nui - Easter Island

From: Hernán (Santiago, Chile) - Just because :)  (See Side Note below!)

Where: Rapa Nui - Easter Island - Chile

Subject:  Easter Island (Rapa Nui: Rapa Nui, Spanish: Isla de Pascua) is a Polynesian island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeastern most point of the Polynesian triangle. A special territory of Chile annexed in 1888, Easter Island is widely famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai (pronounced /ˈmoʊ.аɪ/), created by the early Rapanui people. It is a World Heritage Site (as determined by UNESCO) with much of the island protected within the  Rapa Nui National Park.  What an amazing place.  The island is located about 2,180 miles west of Santiago's coast. In comparison, Hawaii is about 2,000 miles west of the US mainland.   Click on the image below the postcard to read all the interesting facts that Hernán wrote on the card! And check out more facts on Wiki. Rapa Nui - Easter Island. 

Stamps:   I will ask Hernán for more details on the stamps :)   

Side note:  2010 Chile Earthquake.  Hernán mailed this postcard before the 8.8 magnitude hit Chile on February 27, 2010.  The card arrived March 4th.  I have received two e-mails from him stating that he and his family are well and that the Chilean government and people are getting organized and ready for reconstruction and help for the displaced.  Unfortunately, there are still large aftershocks effecting the area.  Just today, March 5th, there were two, the first one 6.3 and the second one a 6.6.  I was in a 6.9 one in 1989. (1989 Loma Prieta earthquake)  and a 6.2 in 1984 (1984 Morgan Hill Earthquake). I can't imagine an 8.8 with 6.6 aftershocks. The tsunamis have caused extra damage and deaths. 279 is the latest estimate for those who have lost their lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Chile.