One of the most recognized statues in the world, Christ the Redeemer, which sits atop the Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca National Park, was affected by heavy rains and subsequent landslides in April 2010.

Named as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007 by The New Open World Corporation, Christ the Redeemer (O Cristo Redentor in Portuguese) is considered to be the tallest art deco statue in the world. Cristo de la Concordia in Cochabamba, Brazil holds the record as the tallest statue in the world.

Christ the Redeemer was designed by Brazilian civil engineer Heitor de Silva Costa and sculpted by French artist Paul Landowski. It was inaugurated in 1931.

The outstretched arms of Christ is a welcoming sign for Christians and non-Christians to the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil which lies below. This amazing statue weighs 700 tons and stands on the peak of the mountain.
Access is usually by road, 220 steps, or by train. At the time of the landslides, mud and rocks have prevented tourists from accessing the statue.

Because of its design, reinforced concrete was chosen as the material, with soapstone used on the outer layers. This helped protect the statue from the heavy rainstorms.

In 2006, to celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of Christ the Redeemer, a chapel was built below the statue to be used for religious ceremonies.

The latest death toll was at 250, with cleanup not yet complete.
Authorities say it could take upwards of six months before Christ the Redeemer can be accessed. It is reported that two million tourists visit the site each year.

Scaffolding has been seen surrounding the statue, as a privately funded renovation project has begun. Perhaps these precautions were taken because they feared possible damage to the statue, loss of revenues, or because the Olympic games are scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

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