Easter Island opens Visitor Centre as part of intensive conservation program

The centre was built with a US$200,000 grant from the World Monuments Fund (WMF), American Express, and Chile’s National Forestry Commission (CONAF).

A press release from WMF explained the reason for the renovations:

“Severely impacted by increasing numbers of tourists each year, Orongo has been the focus of an intensive conservation and interpretive program supported by WMF and American Express since 2001.

The visitor centre is the last component of this program and serves as an introduction to the national park, providing information and educational materials for visitors as well as helping to monitor and manage visitation to the site.”

Builders renovated the old reception centre with recycled materials and built a power system supplied by wind and solar energy. Other green initiatives included a rainwater recycling system and composting toilets. These features will help the centre and its visitors prevent damage to the fragile archaeological site.

Park Ranger Carlos Salinas Rojas spoke with The Santiago Times on location at the centre about the project.

“The park rangers have been waiting a long time for this centre so that we could give better attention and information to our visitors.”

Salinas, a native of mainland Chile, has lived on Easter Island for 32 years and welcomes guests to Orongo with a smile or a jovial quip.

When asked what his favourite part of the centre was, Salinas replied, “the kitchen”.

By Erin Allen - The Santiago Times Feed

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mhhh, the point is... the island is suffering from massive erosion in some parts. Of course the island benefits from it's history, which is bound to the catasptrophe in the past. On the other side, it also would benefit from good examples of re-foresting and it's benefits. They will surely not reforest the whole island again, thats for sure.

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Top 10 Most Remote Destinations in the World | svccwa.org

For those with a sense of adventure or just a desire to see some of the most remote places on earth, there any number of places to choose from.

Chumbe Island in Tanzania is a pristine nature reserve that can only be seen when accompanied one of the rangers from the park. Those who like to snorkel will delight in the shallow water snorkeling that is available for visitors. For divers there are reefs nearby that are also part of the park. Again, a guide is needed as this is a gazetted marine park. The coral reefs are still pristine and care must be taken to keep them that way.

Copper Canyon in Mexico winds its way through the Sierra Madre mountain range. This vast and remote region can be hiked using burros as well as horseback trips. Many people prefer to take the popular Copper Canyon train in order to see some of the most remote areas of this canyon. The train stops at many destinations along its route so that travelers can enjoy all the different areas and what they have to offer.

Easter Island in Chile is an adventure that still fascinates travelers. It’s located in the South Pacific and is a desolate island. It’s also a volcanic island which has produced lush fields set against clear blue skies. Most go to this island to see the stone monoliths but the islands offers many beautiful places to discover as well as other areas where ruins can be seen.

The Faroe Islands are part of Denmark and visitors will wonder at the glaciated landscapes. The islands are made up of mostly steep slopes and one will be hard pressed to find flat land. The people of the island are self governing and have their own language. The island is likened to a living museum dedicated to farming. Tourists will delight in the historic architecture. Although mild due to the Gulf Stream, tourists should expect to part of the life of the island no matter what the environment brings.

Tibet is a step back in time and is truly an enchanting adventure. With the Himalayas as a backdrop one can adventure into the Yarlun Valley and discover caves and temples dating back hundreds of years. One of the most popular sites is the Potala Palace that goes back to the 7th century AD. From mountain climbing to train travel this is a vast country to explore.

Male in the Maldives is a remote paradise of beautiful pristine beaches with warm turquoise water. Venture past the superficial and explore the culture of the country and the people. Off the beaten path there is a wonderful adventure waiting for those who want to experience the “real” island.


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