Our Lady of the Cloud Monument, Religious monument on Mount Abuga in Azogues, Ecuador
The monument is a large aluminum statue standing on Mount Abuga in Cañar Province. It depicts the Virgin Mary holding her son and rises from a solid base on the mountain slope, where the air grows thinner and the light becomes bright and clear.
A Franciscan friar began building this monument on the mountain in 2004. After five years of work, it was finished in 2009 and officially dedicated one year later.
The monument shows the Virgin Mary cradling Jesus and functions as a pilgrimage destination for worshippers. Religious celebrations and family gatherings take place here throughout the year, drawing people who come to pray and spend time at this elevated sacred spot.
Well-maintained roads connect to the monument, and regular transportation services run from the city of Azogues. Visitors heading up should bring warm clothing, as the high elevation brings cooler temperatures and strong winds.
The statue is so large and heavy that it can be seen from distant mountain peaks across the landscape. Visitors traveling to nearby summits can spot its silhouette, revealing how this work reaches out across the entire region.
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