Motu Nui

Islet located at the southern part of Easter Island. The importance of this islet resides on a ritual that was created after the Moai stopped being revered, when the cult to the Tangata Manu started.

The ritual consisted on a competition to collect the first egg of the manutara. This gave the winner's clan leader the title of Tangata manu , and great power on the Island. This took place starting from the ceremonial city of Orongo , where the fittest from each clan went down the cliffs, swam in the sea, snatched an egg and had to go back up. Many of such competitors died by sharks or falls.

Motu means small barren island in Rapa Nui language, and there are other two Motus located at this same spot of the island: Motu Kao Kao (a peak born from the sandy bottom, raising around 20 mts (65 feet) above sea level) and Motu Iti (located close to Motu Nui).