Christ the Redeemer is a statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil that was built as a symbol of Brazilian Christianity. In 1850, the idea of building a religious monument was first suggested by a Catholic Priest. It wasn't until 1920 when a group petitioned for support to build a landmark statue that it became a reality. The design was chosen from several ideas and construction began in the 1920s, taking nine years to finish. Today, Christ the Redeemer is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Some interesting facts about Christ the Redeemer:
1. Christ the Redeemer is the largest art deco statue in the world. It is 98 feet tall (not including the 26-foot pedestal), and the arms stretch 92 feet wide.
2. Christ the Redeemer is located in the Tijuca Forest National Forest, at the top of the Corcovado Mountain.
3. The first suggestion to build a large religious monument was made in the 1850s by a Catholic priest names Pedro Maria Boss. The request for financing wasn't approved because Princess Isabel was not a fan of the idea. The request was officially denied in 1889 when Brazil mandated the separation of church and state. A petition started by a group in the early 1920s, called the Catholic Circle of Rio, was successful. Construction began in 1922 and took nine years to complete.
4. In 2008 a violent electrical storm resulted in a lightning strike on the statue. The head, eyebrows, and fingers were damaged. The soapstone exterior of the statue prevented severe damage as it acted as an insulator. The Rio de Janeiro state government began a restoration effort. They replaced some layers of soapstone and repaired the lightning rods on the statue.
5. Christ the Redeemer was vandalized in 2010 by a house painter. He had sprayed the head and right arm with graffiti. The culprit was later identified.
6. To celebrate the monument's 75th anniversary in 2006, authorities built a small chapel at its base. So yes, you can get married beneath Christ the Redeemer. However, there's limited space inside, and making the slow journey to the top (cog train to an elevator to an escalator) in full wedding attire may not be everyone's idea of romance.
7. There were several designs to choose from. One was a depiction of the Christian cross. Another was a statue of Jesus holding a globe while standing over a pedestal that was to symbolize the world.
8. In 2003 there were escalators, elevators, and walkways installed. These made it possible to access the platform that surrounds Christ the Redeemer.
9. The stones that were used to build Christ the Redeemer came from Sweden. The statue was completed in 1931. It officially opened on October 12, 1931. The cost in 1931 was approximately $250,000 US. Today that would roughly be the equivalent of $3.2 million US.
10. This statue became one of the New Seven Wonders of the World on July 7th, 2007.
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