Christ the Redeemer in Rio

Christ the Redeemer is an Art Deco statue of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It stands on Corcovado mountain.

The figure is 30 metres high, with arms stretching 28 metres wide. It faces east over the city.

Construction ran from 1922 to 1931. Engineers chose reinforced concrete instead of steel for the cross-shaped frame.

Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida carved the face. The outer layers are soapstone, chosen for its enduring qualities and ease of use.

The original plan held a globe and a cross. Organizers later changed it to open arms symbolizing peace.

At the 1931 opening, Guglielmo Marconi tried turning on floodlights by radio from Rome. Bad weather forced local activation.

Marconi tried lighting it from Rome.

Lightning struck in 2008, damaging fingers and eyebrows. A 2010 restoration used more than 60,000 replacement stones. Even statues need a good tile job.