10 facts you may not know about Christ the Redeemer

If you have been following the Olympics at Rio De Janeiro, it is difficult to miss the dominating presence of Christ The Redeemer statute. A cultural icon of Rio, the statue is listed as one of the 'New Seven Wonders of the World'. It is 38 meters tall including the pedestal with its arms stretched 28 meters wide. Here are 10 amazing facts about the statue.

1) In 1850, a priest suggested placing a Christian monument on Mt Corcovado to honor the princess regent of Brazil. The idea was, however, dismissed.

2) In 1920 a second proposal was made which was approved. Mt Corcovado was chosen over Sugar Loaf Mountain for its towering height.

3) The work began in 1921 and the statue was opened to the public in 1931. 

4)  A local designer Heitor da Silva Costa designed the statue; it was sculpted by Polish-French sculptor Paul Landowski. 

5) This statute of Jesus is said to symbolize world peace. During the initial days, when it was being designed, there were plans to have a globe on one hand.  

6) The cost came up to about$250,000 in 1903s and weighs around 635 tons. It was made out of reinforced concrete and soapstone. 

7) In October 2006, Archbishop of Rio consecrated a chapel, named after Brazil's patron saint- Our Lady of the Apparition, under the statue. 

8) In 2007, Christ the Redeemer or Cristo Redentor was inducted into the New Seven Wonders of the World. 

9) In the statue was damaged due to lightning twice – once in 2008 and again in 2014. Restorations were undertaken. 

10) Long ago there were 200 odd steps that took you to the top. Now, a series of escalators and elevators make it way easier to get to the top. 

How to reach

The easiest way to reach the mountain is to go to the ticket office of the Corcovado Train station  and catch a train. Or you can jump into one of the vans that go that route.