Located 2,500 miles off the coast of Peru in the heart of the South Pacific Ocean lies Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui. This is the easternmost Polynesian island and the most remote inhabited island on the planet. Many see it as one of the most mysterious prediluvian sites on Earth mainly because of the iconic and still unexplained Moai statues that dot the island, together with the massive megalithic stone structures that are identical to those found in South America, Egypt, and Japan. The Moai statues of Easter Island are often recognized as one of the most fascinating archaeological mysteries in the world. They were first encountered by Europeans in 1722 when Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen arrived on the island on Easter Sunday, from which the island derived its name. These colossal stone figures have intrigued archaeologists and visitors for centuries due to their massive scale and the mystery surrounding their creation and purpose. Nearly 900 statues exist, varying in height. Some of these statues weigh up to 82 tons. That’s three times more than the megalithic stones at Stonehenge. [Via: Universe Inside You]