Getting an up-close look at new statue found in Easter Island l GMA

"GMA" co-anchor Michael Strahan also shares what it was like to travel to the remote Chilean island.
READ MORE: gma.abc/3IDyKTb
#abcnews #easterisland #moai #climatechange #chile #travel #gma

[@electronicnotarystamp235]

If the statue was once located below the water level wouldn't you think that maybe in the past the water levels were lower? Meaning that weather shifts naturally throughout time.

[@apexone5502]

I was thinking the same thing. Clearly there was a time when that ground was normally dry in order for a statue to be planted there.

[@o221e3]

So there a show called "polar extremes" on PBS i think. And in the show they explain that climate change does happen naturally, a frost and a warming, but we are speeding up this process due to our unsustainable practices.

[@glidercoach]

Stop. Climate change is real and the vaccine stops transmission of covid. Pay your carbon taxes and don't ask any more questions.

[@quakekatut8641]

"Climate change?" That lake has seen many dry seasons! A quick search proved what I suspected ... "Both Rano Raraku and Rano Aroi are shallow, with Rano Raraku periodically going dry and Rano Aroi frequently reverting to a bog during drought events ... "Analyses of historical rainfall patterns and climate proxies demonstrate high temporal variability from year to year with frequent drought events ..." (Thermal Imaging Shows Submarine Groundwater Discharge Plumes Associated with Ancient Settlements on Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile)

[@aqueous5099]

Do you think there’s a difference between climate changing over ten thousand years-vs climate changing in that same rate over just 100 years? You realize that the conditions and rates for the lowering and rising sea levels were drastically different? Researchers literally calculate the rate of change that occurred every century. There’s a reason the period they identify today is ‘unprecedented’-are you going to appeal to such limited information that has no context to the behaviors and patterns of climate over time and think you’ve made a profound claim?

[@davidinsvaz7883]

"Climate change" how about calling a drought a drought.

[@HelloThere-xx1ct]

Remember it is not a mystery how the Moai were made. The people of the island always knew how it was done and researchers finally listened when they were told the statues "walked into place". You can literally walk the statues by tipping them from side to side. There are dozens of Moai that are cracked and abandoned around the island how did not survive their "walk".

[@Ranstone]

People think anyone over 300 years ago were stupid. Engineers and problems-solvers have existed by different names since the dawn of time.

[@PhsykoOmen]

​@@Ranstone its due to modern conveniences that general people cant imagine doing anything by manual labor alone

[@pyromaniac709]

Omg thats amazing,how come ive heard that version before

[@TheAlmightyFather]

But there arent any "locals" to begin with since all people in the island died off. People living here arent exactly kins to the real maoi

[@ronaldreaganrimjobs9327]

If they were so wise...why did they use up all their resources and cause their own 💀?

[@lefish5277]

OK, but can we talk about how cute and sweet it was for the tour guide to have him close his eyes before he saw the crater

[@dagreenblazer5958]

It was cute..... BUT also pretty convenient that holding hands with hunky Mike is suddenly a necessity! She'd been planning that move all the way up the hill 😄❤️😄

[@waisidesojah]

Aloha is the same across a of Polynesia

[@melissawright5716]

I hadn’t even watched it but teared up when I read what you wrote. Pms sucks

[@dirkdiggler2430]

Shut up

[@rosetealatte9282]

You couldnt pay me a million dollars to get me to close my eyes and walk anywhere near a massive cliff like that.

[@veroniqueaudet4152]

If they have found a heavy stone statue at the bottom of a former lake, wouldn’t it mean that it was maybe not always a lake. Maybe it was land back then.

[@andysparks1973]

exactly , but people are to dumb to understand basic logic and the rubbish they talk.

[@jesusisalive3227]

Yes!

[@hardrockminer-50]

And that would mean the climate changed to cause a lake to form. Maybe now, with the lake drying up, the climate is returning to normal!

[@ssbf1095]

Beautiful and intriguing island. How lucky Michael is to see it in person!

[@andyginterblues2961]

I read the book "Aku Aku" by Thor Heyerdahl when I was a child. In it, Heyerdahl and crew traveled to Easter Island in a raft built out of reeds, he was trying to prove how Pacific islanders may have traveled from the mainland and populated all of the various islands. As I recall, only the heads of the Maoi were visible at the time, it took years before archaeologists began to dig at the statues' bases, and discovered that they had bodies that had sunk into the ground. The book was fascinating.

[@x808drifter]

And his theory was proven wrong. And you recall wrong. They (Rapa Nui) started toppling the Moai in the 1700s. Some were found buried up to the neck but they (explorers/archeologists) knew that they looked like that WAY before.

[@agorapanologia]

Your interest in Pasifika culture is much appreciated, but like the other comment stated, Thor Heyerdahl was not only incorrect about his theory, his theory was based on racist beliefs about the Polynesian peoples. I encourage you to look to other scholars for more information, if you're interested, particularly those with a Pacific Islander background. No one can tell our stories better than we can. 😊

[@sonthay22]

You make want to read the book.

[@agorapanologia]

@The Hierophant Getting the viewpoints of people whose culture and history it is is basic research. You can get information from whomever you want, but it's worthwhile to actually speak to the people who you are studying. Simple. I'm sorry you seem unable to comprehend that. Probably because you're a troll. Thanks for the dogwhistles though. Bringing up multiculturalism and equality unprovoked in a comment thread about where to look for more accurate resources is too obvious.

[@agorapanologia]

@The Hierophant Umm...kay. I'm just stating a fact. Thor Heyerdahl was wrong about the origins of Polynesians and how we populated the Pacific, period. There are better resources, period. Some of those better resources are from Pacific Islanders who are generally less read among academics, but who have personal connections to the subject and thus have a viewpoint worth researching. Period. Why are you getting so emotional about it bro? Do you need to lie down? I think you need a nap. Also I'm not from Rapa Nui, so "my people" weren't toppling anything over.

[@wally7856]

Should of named this piece - "Watch how many times we can say climate change in 6 minutes"

[@MetalHead1012]

He's SO LUCKY! What a majestic place to be. Maybe one day.

[@yapandasoftware]

Al Gore says no.. it will be under water by 2020... Oh wait.. No it's not..

[@Danielito9320]

I'm Chilean and I am favor of Easter Island becoming it's own country. For years, Easter Island wanted to leave Chile to become it's own country and I support that.

[@sylviatorrez1734]

This reporter was meant for this story his respect and, and humility is amazing

[@sylvia106]

Well said! Sylvia!

[@gunners4129]

Its Michael Strahan.. he was a pretty prominent NFL player and ESPN sportscaster

[@Fable1Guides]

​@@gunners4129 also illuminati shill.

[@Handles-R-Lame]

​@@Fable1Guides LOL! 🤡 Just so we're clear, I'm not laughing with you.

[@urex1717]

I would agree if he didn't have a speech impediment and a willingness to preach an agenda.

[@batcactus6046]

Guess the videographers didn't know there was going to be a big banner across 20% of the screen.

[@tmrossi2899]

Maybe the dried up lake bed was dry before in order to have carved & placed statues?

[@Mew4U]

That lady was so sweet

[@theotheleo6830]

But how did the statue end up in a lake? Could it be that the lake was dry when it was moved there?

[@eduardoreyes4958]

Good cuestion.

[@tedthayer1]

Climate Change

[@zhaneranger]

It probably wasn’t always a lake and now it’s back to not being a lake again. Small islands and small ecosystems are very susceptible to outside influences

[@eduardoreyes4958]

@@zhaneranger It makes sense.

[@glidercoach]

Don't ask questions and open your wallet and pay to stop the climate from changing. It will be money well spent... I promise! 🤞

[@swayzefan3600]

its incredible the original artists were able to carve that statue underwater.

[@Ranstone]

In case this is not a joke, it wasn't underwater at the time. The climate changes a lot.

[@pinchebruha405]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@swayzefan3600]

@@Ranstone i think its a disgrace to ancient artists to downplay their ability and willingness to make these masterpieces that we can enjoy all these thousands of years later. it was clearly built underwater otherwise this wouldn't be a news story. they probably knew humans would ruin the planet and built this there as a warning.

[@wedjongkwowe4679]

@@swayzefan3600 don’t be an idiot

[@escapee8041]

Thank you

[@CrazyBunny123]

Nothing related to the video but I had a strange urge to search about the statues of the Easter Island just this morning.

[@DougS45]

That is strange indeed but I also had the urge and after doing some youtube searching about the topic this popped up as a recommendation later.

[@HiAdrian]

Yeah, happens to me too on occasion. I think sometimes you get a brief glimpse of a news topic and your subconscious picks it up without your knowledge. In other cases it's just plain coincidence. Thousands of viewers (myself included) did not think about Easter Island before getting this video in their feed.

[@O6i]

Same

[@kerbygator]

Send money to the government so we can stop this climate change, people......Come on man!

[@stephanieyee9784]

What a fantastic experience this is for Michael. He's the perfect host for this segment.

[@jimijefferson82]

C(lie)mate change ambassador.

[@YungSteambuns]

Racist

[@maddat8701]

Just say the words climate change a few times and every dumb ass will like you.

[@annaeseolightwing4310]

Loved the drone footage! It really allowed the viewers to share in Michael's excitement as he marveled at the majestic sights!

[@Texan96]

“Due to climate change” That’s such a broad statement. The fact they never specify the change in the climate is ridiculous

[@BErectus]

Correction: "Due IN PART to climate change" (Nothing is ever absolute in media.)

[@maltedmilk6888]

WTF did they fly him all the way to Easter Island? He was completely unnecessary to the story

[@crystalrusmisel1832]

Would have been nice to get a better look at the statue even though it was partially in the ground. Camera guy had one job and in my opinion he didn’t get the shot.

[@brocknspectre1221]

Wow, Michael won the lottery with that assignment! I mean, getting to fly to Easter Island has got to be better than reporting on the fentanyl crisis in our inner cities or similar

[@jimmymckay73]

Did I miss something ? Did abc really send mike all the way there and not go to the site ? Or really even talk about it ?

[@jthomeskillet]

Glad Michael got to feel the energy of authentic humanity. Seems like it suits him more than the stuffed suit studio realm

[@BrianLockett]

How do so many people around here _not_ know this is Michael Strahan? Ex-NFL star-turned-media-star?

[@ThatOpalGuy]

glad to see he got away from cathy lee.

[@adamorick2872]

So this isn't the 1st time that lake bed was dry ground

[@ronaldluning4010]

Fairly sure they didn't set up that statue in a lake, so climate change in this example is more like a climate cycle.

[@IanMicheal]

climate cycle Of course that also means change ..

[@pikasnipe1]

Cycles sound more accurate. It's just humans thinking they can control it all with such an ego.

[@vilstef6988]

Easter Island was heavily populated, but the carving of the Moai and the deforestation that happened because of the cultural events of the Moai brought an ecological collapse which the island never recovered from.

[@TheAccidentalViking]

That's an old myth. It was much more complicated than that and most of it had to do with European colonialisation.

[@hawkeye98]

What a beautiful experience. This island has been on my bucket list for quite some time.

[@Andy-bb6yd]

We went in 2016 and it is an unforgettable experience, the island is beautiful, also if you scuba dive they have placed a "Moai", 30 meters down, about half a kilometer of shore, great photo opportunity!.

[@hawkeye98]

@@Andy-bb6yd we live in South America. Can I ask how you got there, where did fly from and if you have any recommendations on where to stay. Many thanks

[@soyblerv3624]

@@hawkeye98 Only airline that gets to the island is Latam, you need to take that flight from the capital of easter island’s country, Santiago Chile.

[@hawkeye98]

@@soyblerv3624 thanks Soy. I can definitely get to Santiago from Bogota. We are planning to go April or so 2024

[@StephanieEliza18]

If they’re there, under the lake, wouldn’t that indicate that the area being dry is not unusual in the long timeline of earth and speak more to climate change being a natural process that goes up and down?

[@WHYXXVI]

Michael Strahan, on behalf of everyone in the general population on earth. It is very refreshing to see a happy, pleasant face every day on TV… thank you for being one of the best parts of entertainment bud!

[@fredvalenzuela5764]

Chew him up then

[@skiman863]

Michael is one of the biggest propaganda pushers for the globalists. He even had a convicted child molester on his show and told people he was a good guy. So Michael is actually a POS.

[@rsmelser]

Would be nice if you removed the banner at the bottom of the screen, Does it have to be there the whole story?

[@ChrisGirard]

I am more impressed that ABC spent $$$$$ to fly some guy out to the middle of the ocean to talk about a new statue found on an island that already has 900 old statues.

[@lineage13]

I CAN TOTALLY SENSE THE OTHER CO-HOSTS ARE JEALOUS OF MICHEAL's TRIP LOL xD

[@karlashdown5228]

As someone of NZ Maori heritage it makes me sad to hear the announcer not even trying to pronounce the actual names properly it's not hard to even mimic but no laziness prevails. It's not a crime but it's also again not hard to put a minuscule amount of effort into basic reporting especially after so long a voyage to get to Rapa-nui or Easter Island.

[@DiscGoStu]

By far the coolest place I’ve been privileged enough to visit 🗿

[@TaharkahX]

It's not Easter Island. It's Rapa Nui.

[@JoeR203]

No bunnies? No eggs?

[@sewmeonekenobi639]

The island has a town? I had no idea. Look at me learning stuff. Whoop.

[@anthonyhaycox1561]

I must have blinked because I missed seeing the promised ‘up close’ view of the newly discovered statue….🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Hman0762]

I experience climate change @ least 4 times a year. It changes a bunch in the spring too.

[@samueldelgadillo6122]

I like how we didn’t get an up-close look whatsoever lol

[@Greenliight]

So cool to see Michael Strahan living his best life and doing so much. I read his book in high school and I don’t even read many books. It was fantastic and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in his football life and mindset that he has he’s a real good dude

[@Magnetron33]

yep! always seems full of love and happiness. Good for him!

[@rogersampaio7450]

It means that the Statue was there before the Lake

[@josephsmyth7334]

So what you saying is that there wasn’t a lake there when the statue was made

[@NortonVideo]

I love this reporter. Can he do ALL news?

[@stargazeronesixseven]

Maybe this Omen written or Spoken in their Culture that : When a New Warrior Maoi Statue emerged from the Lake >>> That is a Sign for ... 🙏🕯🌍

[@TheJGarz]

Why would they put a statue in the middle of a lake? What if it wasn’t always a lake???

[@Tin_wanjala]

The statues always give me deep sadness vibes. Like people who somehow ended up far from home and gave up hope of finding their way back.

[@lukesorce8660]

There’s a story that the Rapa Nui visited the Chilean coast pre-Colombian exchange. Apparently a Rapa Nui chief married a Chilean princess or something like that. That’s from their oral history.

[@busterthe2]

They dont look out at see. They look inward from the sea

[@Tin_wanjala]

@@busterthe2 ooh thanks for this. Maybe it's a different kind of sadness then.

[@Tin_wanjala]

@@lukesorce8660 let me read as much as I can about this.

[@Nosh_Feratu]

i love it. Michaels enthusiasm is infectious, the dude clearly loves it there, the history, the geography...awesome stuff!

[@TripleAM19]

One day.. I will be there! This is on my travel list!

[@joerdahl2558]

ABC couldn't give us a nice view without the banner

[@Godwinpounds4333]

Hello how are you doing how’s 🎉

[@michaelrmurphy2734]

Michael's last adventure was to Churchill, Manitoba to see the polar bears. Monday was International Polar Bear Day!

[@maconmemories3085]

How did the new found statue get into the middle of the lake? I'm guessing it wasn't a lake once before..

[@jaysoncarter5093]

Wow, I've never heard of that lake drying up. I just visited my homeland, Samoa, not too far away in the scheme of things. We have been affected by King Tides and drought

[@jonathanrussell2023]

If there is a statue in the middle then it must have been dry once !

[@emaarredondo-librarian]

1:44. Chilean here. The country's name is not Chee-leh stressed on the leh, but stressed on the Chee. Just like chili peppers. Yep, my country's name sounds very much like a hot spice. We are not offended. It's tasty.

[@smrk2452]

This is fantastic! Thank you for this report.

[@lornaduwn]

Sooo...it must have been dry when the statue was put there in the first place. Did man cause the drought that dried up that lake way back then?

[@zye8360]

🗿🗿🗿

[@hagen3457]

"What was previously a lake." And before that. Not a lake.

[@MetalHead1012]

Have they used Lidar on Easter Island ? If not, they're slacking!

[@jimmyjimjims7483]

Mike Tyson really diversifying his portfolio the last few years lol

[@allensauler7960]

“WOW” there was 1,043 “Maoi”, statues on Easter Island, now there’s 1,044, WOW what a incredible find? ? ? WTF? ? ?

[@dpg227]

I wanted to hear more about the new statue.

[@jons2447]

So how did a statue get in a lake? Think about it. Could the statue have been there BEFORE it was a lake? Could the statue have been placed in a lake?

[@JohnDoe-cd6ro]

So are the natives closer in blood to Samoans or the natives of South America? Genuinely curious. Had know idea that's where it was located.

[@est8793]

Present dry conditions, not permanent, never is, there is no emergency.

[@Texas_Takeover]

How can easter island have ancestors if the whole population was wiped out? they were isolated from the world, decimated all their trees, had no way to build boats or rafts, and eventually ate each other and went extinct...

[@BErectus]

Just because they ate eachother, it doesn't necessarily follow that they went extinct.

[@rb239rtr]

Anthropologists believed that the Moas were moved for many miles on timber log rollers from the quarry to the sites. The Easter Islanders always said the Moas walked to resting places. After a century of saying the 'walking' was a myth, a couple of years ago anthropolgists discovered that the walking was true. They stood up a Moa at the quarry, they attached three ropes- 2 forward and 1 at the back, and with modest manpower they moved the Moa forward by rocking it with the 2 forward ropes and by restraining the back rope. They 'walked' the Moa very easily.

[@johne.8939]

What does he mean hidden for “thenthuries”?

[@llamasugar5478]

So, was this lake bed a dry area when the Moai were put there, or did the people tip some reject statues into the lake?

[@Dingalingis]

When does the “up close look at the newly found statue” happen? Change the title to what actually happens. “We ALMOST show you”

[@tenderprecious]

Thank you do much for making the trip and sharing this wonderful new find with us, I'm sure there's still even more to discover now that this has shed new light on a new area to explore

[@glidercoach]

The lake dried up because of climate change... ...but how did the statue get into the lake? Or was the lake not there before the climate changed, creating the lake, then changed again drying it up again? Open your wallets everyone and pay to stop the climate from changing. It will be money well spent... I promise! 🤞

[@domsterish]

I love how quickly they dumb down the content and make a fluff piece out of something so historically amazing. The news , and most influencers literally dimb down everything by not focusing in the important pieces of a story.. they devoted screen time to show him traveling the airport folks this is lazy reporting. I dk t care how long your flight was let me listen to smart folks talk about stuff

[@ladyhonor822]

Yeah Thank you 😘 Philadelphia USA 🇺🇲

[@ladyhonor822]

Please be careful Doll 😇 AMEN YEAH.

[@ladyhonor822]

I don't think there are words to describe it 😝

[@ladyhonor822]

The food is delicious

[@ub4079]

6 minutes video 5 second shot of the statue Bravo!

[@bettyandreaestradafranco9940]

I'm from Chile and I haven't had the opportunity to travel to Easter island. This video was a beautiful surprise ☺️

[@1911beauty]

Apparently the statue was placed when there was no water. That suggests to me that this dried reservoir comes and goes.

[@jimsinthailand]

They found a rock in a dry lake......shocking

[@johnwood551]

IF this is supposedly “Due to global warming “ then did they make that statue underwater ? NO, it was dry before . Hmm,back when the ancient automobiles caused global warming then.

[@aick]

Michael Strahan, I wanna see you getting every volcanic crater on the planet revealed to you, that was charming AF! Thanks for the entertaining and informative piece.

[@zackhodge7012]

So are we changing it back to what it was?

[@cyankirkpatrick5194]

Easter island has been example of how people carelessly don't take care of things.

[@BErectus]

Damn humans!

[@stevenwells6292]

I'ts more concerning how a lake can evaporate in two years.

[@joethompson3859]

The name of the Island is Rapanui It's was named by my ancestors Maori ..home land Aotearoa aka New Zealand.

[@chazzmichaelmichaels5766]

4 times mentioning climate change in the story.

[@peterchristensen9585]

Also fascinating... What happened to the civilization on Easter Island? Around 1200 A.D., their growing numbers and an obsession with building moai led to increased pressure on the environment. By the end of the 17th century, the Rapanui had deforested the island, triggering war, famine and cultural collapse.

[@BorahaeBitch7]

Their culture is so rich and vibrant. Their dancers are always crowd pleasers and a main attraction at any Festival of the Pacific Arts.

[@Olsenator]

Fun fact. There are entire bodies under those heads. Those statues. Are huge. Look it up. It’s amazing

[@user-hk8yp7cw1v]

El mejor país de Chile

[@rhoula]

That big banner that takes quarter of the screen should be removed to allow people to have a better view.

[@hefhardly6052]

Probobly safe to say Michael has never been to Crater Lake in Oregon

[@dna9838]

Wonder why they don't try to reforest the island. Would improve moisture retention for lakes and retain topsoil for becoming more self sufficient

[@WeAreLegion-]

Where was the up close of the new statue?

[@texaswunderkind]

The guide just wanted to hold his hand, and a big crater reveal was a good excuse. #SMOOTH

[@chadmiller1120]

So nobody has ever done a LiDAR mapping of the island? Really makes you think of the possibilities there and at other major archaeological sites!!!!

[@jameswynne6270]

THE ISLAND IS FULL 🌝 OF THEM 🏝️🗿🏝️🗿🏝️🗿🏝️🗿 your STANDING ON THEM!!! LOOK UNDERGROUND!!

[@MichaelDavis-zf6nt]

So what you're saying is, since it was found in a dry lake bed, that lake bed was dry at one point when they were moving it hundreds or thousands of years ago. So how do you know it's climate change and not a natural cycle of formation and evaporation that has dried this lake in the past and present?