Sources of drinking water on islands often present critical constraints to human habitation. On Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile), there is remarkably little surface fresh water due to the nature of the island's volcanic geology. While several lakes exist in volcanic craters, most rainwater quickly passes into the subsurface and emerges at coastal springs. Nevertheless, the island sustained a relatively large human population for hundreds of years, one that built an impressive array of monumental platforms (ahu) and statues (moai). To understand how Rapanui acquired their scarce fresh water, we review ethnohistoric data from first European arrival (1722) through the mid-twentieth century. Ethnohistoric accounts identify a diversity of freshwater sources and describe various Rapanui freshwater management strategies. Our findings highlight the importance of coastal freshwater seeps and provide much-needed insight into how Rapanui procured this vital and necessary resource.

中文翻译：

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Rapa Nui（智利复活节岛）的淡水使用的民族史

岛屿上的饮用水源经常对人类的居住构成严重的限制。在拉帕努伊（智利的复活节岛），由于该岛火山地质的性质，其地表淡水非常少。尽管火山口中存在几个湖泊，但大多数雨水很快进入地下并出现在沿海泉水中。然而，该岛数百年来一直保持着相对较大的人口数量，该岛建立了令人印象深刻的纪念碑平台（ahu）和雕像（moai）。为了了解拉帕努伊（Rapanui）如何获得稀缺的淡水，我们回顾了自20世纪初欧洲首次到达（1722）以来的民族史数据。民族史记载确定了各种淡水来源，并描述了各种拉帕努伊淡水管理策略。