Rano Raraku is a volcanic crater formed of consolidated
volcanic ash, or
tuff, and located on the lower slopes of
Terevaka in the
Rapa Nui National Park on
Easter Island in
Chile. It was a
quarry for about 500 years until the early eighteenth century, and supplied the stone from which about 95% of the island's known monolithic sculptures (
moai) were carved. Rano Raraku is a visual record of moai design vocabulary and technological innovation, where 397 moai remain. Rano Raraku is in the
World Heritage Site of Rapa Nui National Park and gives its name to one of the seven sections of the park.