One Word Sunday is a blogging challenge hosted by Debbie Smyth at TravelWithIntent.  This week’s challenge is Rock.

The Rappa Nui people sailed more than 1,000 miles (1,610 km) over open Pacific waters to established a home on Easter Island and brought with them an oval shaped rock high in iron content. The rock was called “Te Pito O Te Henua” the navel of the world. The Rappa Nui placed it on a beach at Te Pito Kura to designate the the center of the surface of the Earth.

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Te Pito O Te Henua “the navel of the world.”

Te Pito O Te Henua is 31.5 inches (80 cm) in diameter, and is said to possess special qualities.  It is said that King Hotu Matu’a brought the stone to the island in his canoe.  High iron content causes a compass to behave strangely.

Next Sunday the subject will be Dark.