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The Real Story Behind Christ the Redeemer | Smartest Year Ever (June 11, 2025)
Why did Brazil build a 100-foot-tall statue of Jesus (Christ the Redeemer) on top of a mountain? How did they do it without helicopters or cranes—and what secret chamber is hidden inside his chest?
In today’s episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy explores Christ the Redeemer, the towering statue that has become a global icon of Brazil. From its political origins to its mind-blowing construction challenges, you’ll learn what this wonder is really made of—both physically and symbolically.
Discover how soapstone tiles, international sculptors, and a cogwheel railway came together to form one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. There’s even a surprise detail inside the statue’s heart that most people have never heard.
This is not just a story about religion—it’s a story about national identity, engineering feats, and human vision. And yes, the statue gets struck by lightning.
New episodes daily. Wonders Week continues tomorrow.
Sources
Smithsonian Magazine. (n.d.). Inside the Making of Christ the Redeemer. Smithsonian Institution. https://www.smithsonianmag.com
UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (n.d.). Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea. https://whc.unesco.org
National Geographic. (n.d.). The Statue That Defines Rio. https://www.nationalgeographic.com
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Christ the Redeemer. https://www.britannica.com
Bresciani, A. (2011). Histórias do Cristo Redentor. Rio Books.
Schwarcz, L. (2018). Brazil: A Biography. Penguin Books.
#sevenwonders #wondersoftheworld #ChristTheRedeemer #BrazilTravel #HistoryFacts #DailyLearning
Music thanks to Zapsplat.
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By GordyWhy did Brazil build a 100-foot-tall statue of Jesus (Christ the Redeemer) on top of a mountain? How did they do it without helicopters or cranes—and what secret chamber is hidden inside his chest?
In today’s episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy explores Christ the Redeemer, the towering statue that has become a global icon of Brazil. From its political origins to its mind-blowing construction challenges, you’ll learn what this wonder is really made of—both physically and symbolically.
Discover how soapstone tiles, international sculptors, and a cogwheel railway came together to form one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. There’s even a surprise detail inside the statue’s heart that most people have never heard.
This is not just a story about religion—it’s a story about national identity, engineering feats, and human vision. And yes, the statue gets struck by lightning.
New episodes daily. Wonders Week continues tomorrow.
Sources
Smithsonian Magazine. (n.d.). Inside the Making of Christ the Redeemer. Smithsonian Institution. https://www.smithsonianmag.com
UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (n.d.). Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea. https://whc.unesco.org
National Geographic. (n.d.). The Statue That Defines Rio. https://www.nationalgeographic.com
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Christ the Redeemer. https://www.britannica.com
Bresciani, A. (2011). Histórias do Cristo Redentor. Rio Books.
Schwarcz, L. (2018). Brazil: A Biography. Penguin Books.
#sevenwonders #wondersoftheworld #ChristTheRedeemer #BrazilTravel #HistoryFacts #DailyLearning
Music thanks to Zapsplat.