Christ the Redeemer, Art Deco statue on Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Christ the Redeemer is a reinforced concrete and soapstone sculpture atop Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The figure reaches 30 meters (98 feet) in height, with outstretched arms spanning 28 meters (92 feet), making it visible from many parts of the city below.
French sculptor Paul Landowski and Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa designed the monument, which was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. Construction lasted nine years and required transporting materials up the mountain.
The sculpture draws pilgrims who come to pray or hold religious ceremonies, while others visit the summit as a national symbol. Groups of different backgrounds gather daily at the base of the monument, taking photographs or simply standing quietly before the outstretched figure.
Visitors reach the summit by Corcovado Train from Cosme Velho neighborhood or by minivans through Tijuca National Park. Early morning or late afternoon offers fewer crowds and better light for photographs.
Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida crafted the face of the figure, while the entire construction weighs around 1,040 metric tons (1,145 tons). Lightning strikes the structure an average of three to five times each year, requiring regular restoration of the stone surface.
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