The early people of Rapa Nui protected their important crops, including yams, sweet potatoes, and bananas, from the wind and salt by growing them in caves and using small pebbles as mulch to prevent the water from evaporating. Today, it is still difficult to provide enough water for livestock (horses and cows) and for farming, in addition to the water needed by the islanders and tourists to drink and bathe.
A new project on Rapa Nui is using solar power to desalinate (remove the salt from) ocean water so that it can be used to water crops. Right now, nearly all electrical power on the island comes from a generator that burns diesel fuel, so this solar-powered water supply is an important step for the island toward using more sustainable, green energy to solve its environmental challenges!
