Christ the Redeemer

Brazil · giant statue · art deco · landmarks

Built over nine years. Construction on this massive statue took place between 1922 and 1931, with many workers and engineers collaborating to make it real.

Incredibly tall and wide. The statue stands 30 metres (98 feet) high, not counting its 8-metre pedestal, and its outstretched arms stretch 28 metres (92 feet) wide, that's about as long as three school buses parked end to end!

Made from concrete and stone. Christ the Redeemer is built from reinforced concrete and soapstone, materials that help it withstand rain, wind, and the hot Brazilian sun.

Art from many countries. French-Polish sculptor Paul Landowski designed it, Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa supervised the building, and Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida carved the beautiful face.

Design changed along the way. The original plan had Jesus holding a globe in one hand and a cross in the other, but organizers decided instead on the open-armed pose you see today.