Final answer:
Easter Island is unique because of its mysterious stone statues called moai, carved by the Rapa Nui people. The island was heavily forested and supported agriculture, but its civilization collapsed, leading to its current lack of human inhabitants.
Step-by-step explanation:
Easter Island is unique because of its mysterious stone statues, known as moai, which were carved by the Rapa Nui people between the years 1250 and 1500. These massive sculptures were positioned to face inland and are thought to represent guardian ancestors/deities that watched over the island and its people. The process of carving, transporting, and placing these statues was a remarkable achievement for the early inhabitants of the island.
In terms of the island itself, Easter Island is the most remote island in the world, over two thousand miles from any other island or mainland. It was heavily forested when the first people arrived in the 7th century, with sandy beaches for landing canoes and fertile volcanic soil that supported the growth of food crops like sweet potatoes.
However, Easter Island is now known for its lack of human inhabitants. The island experienced a collapse of its civilization, which included the depletion of its resources, deforestation, and the decline of its population. Today, Easter Island is home to around 8,000 people and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.