Christmas in Rio
You have to hand it to the Brazilians. They know how to party in style. In addition to Carnaval and New Year's Eve, Rio also boasts a spectacular Christmas display. For 13 years now, they've had a giant, illuminated Christmas tree floating in the city's massive lagoon, Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. At the end of November, the latest version of the Christmas Tree of Bradesco Seguros e Previdencia was launched.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it's the biggest floating Christmas tree in the world. At 85 meters high, it's a spectacle of light, color and music, wrapped in 52km of lighted strands and 1,600 flashing lights. Inside it this year is an electronic carillon that rings out Christmas carols, and every Saturday it's surrounded in an explosion of fireworks.
Not only does it look amazing, but it's also got a conscience. The tree is fueled by biodiesel, and any carbon emissions that do escape into the atmosphere by the assembly, display and dismantling of the tree will be neutralized by tree planting in the Mata Atlantica rainforest. Happy Christmas! RM
2008 Dec 20
2 responses.
2 COMMENTS
Ann
December 21, 2008
Oh my god, the middle picture is SO photoshopped! Our tree is big and very beautiful, but it doesn’t take up a third of the Lagoa and is definitely NOT six times the size of the Cristo Redentor!
Roshan
December 21, 2008
That’s hilarious – I hadn’t noticed! It looks ridiculous when you realise
Thanks for pointing it out.