The Cartoon Guide to the Environment

-Why was the Easter Islands named Easter Islands

-A dutch admiral in 1722 landed there on Easter Sunday

-What year was Easter Island Colonized?

-400

-The Polynesians were the ones to colonize the Easter Islands. How do we know it was the Polynesians?

-The skulls, the blood type, the language, and crops

The Easter Islands were colonized by the Polynesians around 400 AD. The islands at the time were covered in thick jungle. The colony cleared out jungle to make room for their houses and crops.

Life on the island was good. There was plenty of food and the colony populated the island. With their spare time they built giant statues. Trees had to be cut down for firewood and for moving the statues.

By the 1400's there were almost no trees left.

-What do you call the top of ground water?

-The water table

-Why can a forest hold more water?

-Because the ground is porous

-What holds soil or dirt in place?

-Plant and tree roots

Without trees the ground does not absorb rain water. Fertile soil gets eroded away, and eventually all the lakes and streams dry up. Without trees to create moister in the air the rain level declines

With declining trees, the Easter Island population reached its peak at 7000 in 1550.

-What was the purpose of the statues?

-To show off and compete