Morro da Babilônia, Mountain summit in Leme district, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Morro da Babilônia is a mountain summit located between Copacabana and Botafogo beaches, rising about 220 meters above sea level. From several viewpoints along the trails, you can see Guanabara Bay and Sugarloaf Mountain.
In the 18th century, Portuguese colonizers built a fortress at the summit to watch over the entrance to Guanabara Bay. During World War II, the Brazilian Army reinforced and expanded this military structure.
Two communities live on the mountain and express themselves through colorful murals created by local artists. These artworks reflect how residents shape their surroundings and build community identity through creative work.
Hiking trails to the summit take between 2 to 3 hours and are accessible throughout the year. Multiple entry points through the Leme neighborhood allow you to choose your preferred route.
The mountain's layers of rock formations alternate with native forest, creating a distinctive visual pattern. Settlers named it after this unusual layered structure they observed.
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