Mount Corcovado

To look at Rio de Janeiro from a bird's eye view and see the main attraction of the city and the country – the statue of Christ the Redeemer – the reasons that constantly attract tourists from all over the world to Mount Corcovado. It is located to the west of the central districts, in the smallest national park of Tijuca. It is also home to tropical forests and the Pedra da Gávea rock. Corcovado is a dome-shaped peak made of granite almost 710 meters high. It offers a wonderful panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro, the beaches of Ipanema, Copacabana, and Leblon, the Maracana Stadium, Lake Rodrigo de Freitas, and Sugarloaf – another well-known mountain and attraction of the city.

Corcovado was discovered along with Guanabara Bay by the Florentine traveler Amerigo Vespucci. This happened in the early 16th century. The discoverer then called it the Tip of Temptation, comparing it to the biblical mountain where Jesus Christ fasted and overcame the temptations of the devil. The modern name appeared later. It translates as «hunchback». But according to another theory, the name derives from the Latin expression «cor quo vado?» – «where am I going?».

At the peak of Corcovado, there is the most recognizable symbol of Brazil and a modern wonder of the world – the 38-meter statue of Christ the Redeemer. It is the highest point in the district, which can be clearly seen from all over Rio de Janeiro. The shape of the statue resembles an evangelical cross, which looks even more spectacular and impressive when thick clouds descend on a mountain.

There are many ways to get to Corcovado. The easiest and most popular is to take the railway, which itself is a local attraction. It was built in 1884, which is almost half a century before the monument was erected. The road was originally used to transport and further assembling of its elements to the top of the mountain. The length of the road is 3,800 meters and the track width is 1 meter. Due to the steep climbing, the railway has toothed rails. The trip takes about 20 minutes. Then you get from the terminal station to the top of the mountain by a staircase, lift, or escalator.

For those who love thrills and want to test themselves, there are rocky routes on the southern slope of Corcovado.