The iconic and towering “Christ the Savior” in Rio de Janeiro met its vertical match: an even taller statue of Jesus, half an hour to the west, in southern Brazil.
With a height of 140 feet, the new statue of Jesus now rising over the city of Encantado – called “Christ the Protector” – is 15 feet taller than its coastal counterpart.
The new statue has been under construction since 2019, but its head and outstretched arms were added this week, according to France24.com. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.
With an arm length of 118 feet, the new “Protector” also enjoys a significant coverage advantage. The extension of the “Redeemer” arm is only 92 feet.
The $ 320,000 price tag is raised through donations.
“It’s a day of celebration, of devotion,” local politician Gilson Conzatti told French news agency AFP after the arms and head of the new statue were attached.
The older statue, which was completed in 1931, was closed to tourists in March last year due to concerns about social distancing.