💨 Abstract

A study published in the Journal of Cultural Heritage warns that rising sea levels could threaten Easter Island's iconic moai statues and about 50 other cultural sites by the end of the century. Using a digital twin of the island's eastern coastline and computer models, researchers found that waves could reach Ahu Tongariki, a key ceremonial platform, as early as 2080. The site is crucial for tourism and deeply embedded in Rapa Nui's cultural identity.

Courtesy: WTOP Staff