At 324 metres tall, Rano Kau is an extinct volcano, that forms the south western headland of Easter Island. The volcanoes crater lake is one of only three natural sources of freshwater on the island. The edges of the crater face onto the ocean, and have eroded back to create steep, rigid cliffs. Inside the crater, the walls slope, at an angle of 65° at the steepest point, to 45° at the gentlest. The ruins of the ancient ceremonial village, Orongo, can be found on the edge of the crater, on the south western side.
The islands famous Moai statues had been recorded as being found on the edge of the volcano, but have since disappeared, falling into the sea. The crater was also the site of the last Toromiro tree in the wild, until the specimen was chopped down for firewood in 1960.
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