Construction of a second monument to Christ is underway in Brazil, with the new statue spanning even higher than the famous Christ the Redeemer.
The statue, which will be named Christ the Protector, will stand at 43 meters (140 feet) tall including its pedestal when it is completed later this year, making it one of the world’s tallest statues of Christ.
Christ the Redeemer, which has overlooked Rio de Janeiro for 90 years this year, measures 38 meters tall with its pedestal included, and spans 28 meters hand to hand.
The project, set to cost around 2 million reals ($350,000) is being coordinated by the Association of the Friends of Christ, is intended to encourage tourism to the city of Encantado, and inspire faith.
Genesio and Markus Moura, who are father and son, are overseeing the work, which is being financed by donations and has been underway since 2019.
Adroaldo Conzatti, the politician and city mayor who conceived the idea, died in March from coronavirus complications.
It comes as covid related deaths in Brazil have mounted to 345,000, making it second only to the United States in terms of lives lost.
One in four covid deaths this week alone were recorded in Brazil, adding up to around 4,000 deaths per day.
The new Cristo Redentor
Man that thing is huge