The past of this fascinating place has a common history with Chile. Photo: Composite by Jazmin Ceras/La República/Anakena
As in Africa and Asia, there is only one place where Spanish is spoken Oceania Something similar happens. On that continent, Spanish has been dominant for more than a century and remains so to this day. Although the distance between this nation and Chile It is 3,686 km, and there is a very strong bond connecting the two territories, and we are not just referring to language. Get the full story in this note.
Which is the only place in Oceania where Spanish is spoken?
The only Spanish-speaking maritime region Easter Island or Rapa Nui. It is considered one of the most attractive places in the world for its culture and natural landscapes. Although located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it is part of the Oceania continent. It has a population of around 7,750.
In Easter Island, official languages Spanish and Rabanui. A total of 900 moai occupy the island, which has been considered a World Heritage Site since 1995. After colonization in the 19th century, only 111 natives remained on the island. It has been more than 300 years since its discovery and is visited annually by thousands of tourists, including many Chileans.
A total of 900 moai occupy the island, which has been considered a World Heritage Site since 1995. Photo: National Geographic
What connects this Easter Island and Chile?
Easter Island and Chile have a common past. This place is part of the continent of Oceania, but it is the island territory of Chile. This Polynesian island is the most isolated inhabited place in the world.
A Chilean sailor in 1888 Polycarpo Toro made the island an official possession, annexing it to the territory of Chile. Subsequently, the government of the country leased it to a company to convert it into a goat farm.
In 1888 the Chilean sailor Polycarpo captured the island of Toro. Photo: @museomaritimocl/X
In 1996, Rapa Nui was again leased out, but this time back to Chile. From that moment on, tourism and the revaluation of its archaeological heritage marked a new connection between the people of the sea and the Chileans.
To find out who discovered this place, on April 5, 1722, the Dutch navigator Jacob Roqueen first landed on the island and named it Rapa Nui. Together with their crew, they found the famous Moise.
