Why do they build a statue of Christ higher than the previous one in Brazil

The Brazilians decided to build another statue of Jesus, which will outshine the famous sculpture in Rio. Inside the giant structure there will be elevators, as well as an observation deck.

In the Brazilian city of Encantado, the highest statue of Christ will appear. It will be the third tallest statue of Jesus and taller than in Rio (38 meters). 

The construction of the 43-meter statue of Christ began in 2019. In early April, a head and arms were added to it. The arm span is 36 meters, and at 40 meters — at chest level-an observation deck will be placed, where tourists will be lifted by an elevator. The construction of the facility worth $ 350,000, which was raised through donations, is planned to be completed this year.

The other day, the statue had hands and a head, and now everyone can observe the outlines of the future monument. It is being built in the city of Encantado in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Construction began in July 2019 and, according to the coordinating Association of the Friends of Jesus, should be completed by the end of 2021.

The idea of the construction belongs to the mayor of Encantado Adroaldo Conzatti, who died in March 2021 from complications of COVID-19. The construction work is managed by his son, Gilson Conzatti, and the Friends of Christ Association. The goal of the project is simple: strengthen the faith and attract tourists.

Encantado is a small city with a population of 22 thousand. It is located 90 kilometers from the state capital, Porto Alegre, and there are no national attractions. So the construction of the statue of Christ should not only strengthen the faith in the residents of the city, but also attract tourists to Encantada.

The new statue's arm span will be 36 meters. Inside it will be an elevator that will take tourists to a glazed observation deck at the level of the chest of Christ.

The authors of the statue are local sculptors, father and son, Genesiu and Marcus Moura. The construction cost is 2 million reais, or 28 million rubles. The money for the construction was raised through crowdfunding organized by the Friends of Jesus Association, which maintains a report on budget spending on the website.