Virgen del Socavón, Monumental religious statue in Oruro, Bolivia
The Virgen del Socavón measures 45.4 meters in height and stands atop Cerro Santa Barbara at an elevation of 3845 meters overlooking the city.
The construction of this monumental statue commenced in 2009 and reached completion in 2013, with an investment of 1.2 million dollars for its development.
The statue represents the Virgen de Candelaria, patron saint of miners, and serves as a central element during the annual Oruro Carnival celebrations.
Visitors can access the monument via a three-minute teleférico ride from Plaza del Folklore, which travels 823 meters to reach the observation point.
The interior of the adjacent sanctuary features ceiling paintings depicting four mythological creatures from local legends: a serpent, lizard, giant frog, and ants.
Location: Oruro
Inception: 2013
Elevation above the sea: 3,845 m
Height: 45.4 m
GPS coordinates: -17.97467,-67.12058
Latest update: May 14, 2025 16:18
Monumental religious statues stand at dozens of sites worldwide, demonstrating the scale of spiritual devotion across different faiths. From the 98-foot (30-meter) Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro to the 420-foot (128-meter) Spring Temple Buddha in Henan Province, China, these structures in stone, concrete and bronze represent diverse religious traditions. Large Buddha statues appear throughout China, Japan, Thailand and Myanmar, while Hindu deities including Shiva and Murugan stand at similar scales in India and Malaysia. The collection also features monuments from other spiritual contexts, including the moai of Easter Island, the Statue of Liberty in New York and the Great Sphinx at Giza in Egypt. Each site offers visitors insight into local religious practices and architectural approaches to depicting sacred figures. These locations draw millions of pilgrims and travelers annually who come to witness both the technical achievement and cultural importance of these monumental works.
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