Christ the Redeemer (Brazil) – Location, History, Facts

Christ the Redeemer is located on the summit of Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, within Tijuca Forest National Park.

Christ the Redeemer, Brazil.

Country: Brazil
Coordinates: 22.9519° S, 43.2105° W

Christ the Redeemer overview

Christ the Redeemer is located on the summit of Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, within Tijuca Forest National Park. The monumental statue of Jesus Christ measures 38 meters in total height, including its pedestal. Its religious symbolism, scale, and prominent setting have made it an emblem of both Rio de Janeiro and Brazil.

Christ the Redeemer coordinates

Christ the Redeemer is commonly mapped at approximately 22.9519° S, 43.2105° W, or -22.9519, -43.2105 in decimal degrees.

Degrees: 22.9519° S, 43.2105° W

Decimal: -22.9519, -43.2105

Where Christ the Redeemer is located

Christ the Redeemer is located on Corcovado, a granite peak in Tijuca Forest National Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at approximately 22.9519°S, 43.2106°W. At about 709 meters above sea level, the summit overlooks the city, Guanabara Bay, and the Atlantic coastline.

Why Christ the Redeemer is important

With its Art Deco figure and outstretched arms, Christ the Redeemer is a defining element of Rio de Janeiro’s cityscape and a symbol of Christianity in Brazil. Its position on Corcovado gives the monument an urban prominence distinct from sculptures built at street level. French sculptor Paul Landowski created the figure after engineering and design work led by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa.

The project emerged from religious and civic initiatives seeking a symbol of faith and protection for Rio de Janeiro. Fundraising, design, and phased construction culminated in the monument’s completion in the early twentieth century. Since then, periodic conservation has addressed weathering and structural wear.

Natural features of Christ the Redeemer

The monument combines a reinforced concrete internal structure with a carefully finished outer surface to resist weathering on the exposed peak. Sculptural geometry emphasizes outstretched arms and a frontal plane that creates a cruciform silhouette against the skyline. The statue rises from a purpose-built pedestal anchored into the Corcovado bedrock, integrating engineered foundations with the granite geology of the mountain. Surface treatments and jointing detail accommodate drainage and thermal movement on the exterior.

Environment, protection, and monitoring of Christ the Redeemer

Christ the Redeemer stands within Tijuca Forest National Park, a protected Atlantic Forest conservation area. The surrounding landscape is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea.” The Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro has custodial responsibility for the monument and participates in conservation alongside heritage and environmental bodies, including work addressing weathering, structural wear, and lightning damage.

Christ the Redeemer facts

The French sculptor Paul Landowski created the statue’s figure following engineering and design work led by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa.
The monument stands atop Corcovado at an elevation of approximately 709 meters above sea level.
The Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro holds custodial responsibility for the monument and has participated in its conservation.
The statue’s outstretched arms form a span that measures around 28 meters across.
The landscape containing the monument was inscribed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea."

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