Sugarloaf Mountain (in Portuguese, Pão de Açúcar), is a peak situated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the mouth of Guanabara Bay on a peninsula that sticks out into the Atlantic Ocean. Rising 396 meters (ca. 1,299 ft) above the harbor, its name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of concentrated refined loaf sugar. It is known worldwide for its cable way and panoramic views of the city.
The mountain is one of several monolithic granite and quartz mountains that rise straight from the water's edge around Rio de Janeiro.
The mountain is protected by the Sugarloaf Mountain and Urca Hill Natural Monument, created in 2006. This became part of a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO in 2012[1].
Overview[]
The mountain is only one of several monolithic morros (hills) of granite and quartz that rise straight from the water's edge around Rio de Janeiro. A glass-walled cable car (in popular Portuguese, bondinho — more properly called teleférico), capable of holding 65 passengers, runs along a 1400-meter route between the peaks of Pão de Açúcar and Morro da Urca every 20 minutes. The original cable car line was built in 1912 and rebuilt around 1972/1973 and in 2008. The cable car leaves a ground station located at the base of the Babilônia hill, to the Urca hill and then to the Pão de Açúcar.
Origins of the name[]
The name "Sugarloaf" was coined in the 16th century by the Portuguese during the heyday of sugar cane trade in Brazil. According to historian Vieira Fazenda, blocks of sugar were placed in conical molds made of clay to be transported on ships. The shape given by these molds was similar to the peak, hence the name.
Chronology[]
1907 — The Brazilian engineer Augusto Ferreira Ramos had the idea of linking the hills through a path in the air.
1910 — The same engineer founded the Society of Sugar Loaf and the same year the works were started. The project was commissioned in Germany and built by Brazilian workers. All parts were taken by climbing mountains or lift by steel cables.
1912 — Opening of the tram. First lift of Brazil. The first cable cars were coated wood and were used for 60 years.
1972 — This year the current template trolley was put into operation. This increased the carrying capacity by almost ten times.
2009 — Inauguration of the next generation of cable cars that had already been purchased and are on display at the base of Red Beach.
Reaching the site[]
To reach the summit, passengers take two cable cars. The first ascends to the shorter Morro da Urca, 220 meters high. The second car ascends to Pão de Açúcar. The Italian-made bubble-shaped cars offer passengers 360-degree views of the surrounding city. The climb takes three minutes from start to finish. Departures are available every 20 minutes between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm and the fare is R$53 for an adult and R$26 for children under the age of 12 round-trip ticket to Pão de Açúcar.
Appearances in media[]
- "Now, Voyager" (1942) Starring Bette Davis.
- In the 1979 James Bond film, Moonraker, the villainous henchman Jaws (played by Richard Kiel) attempts to kill 007 (Roger Moore) and the agent's ally, Dr. Holly Goodhead (Lois Chiles), on a cable car. However, Bond and Goodhead escape, and Jaws collides with the building at the bottom of the cable car route, demolishing the building but escaping unscathed.
- Herb Alpert recorded a song entitled "Sugarloaf" for his 1982 album Fandango.
- In The Simpsons episode "Blame It on Lisa," Homer's kidnappers meet there with the rest of the family for the exchange, between two cable cars.
- In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, this mountain can be seen from the map, favela.
- In the film Rio, the mountain can be seen several times throughout the film.
- In the film Rio 2, the mountain can be seen briefly on Jewel's journey back from getting her Brazil Nut.
Timeline[]
- 1907 – The Brazilian engineer Augusto Ferreira Ramos had the idea of linking the hills through a path in the air.
- 1910 – The same engineer founded the Society of Sugar Loaf and the same year the works were started. The project was commissioned in Germany and built by Brazilian workers. All parts were taken by climbing mountains or lift by steel cables.
- 1912 – Opening of the tram. First lift of Brazil. The first cable cars were made of coated wood and were used for 60 years.
- 1972 – The current model of cars was put into operation. This increased the carrying capacity by almost ten times.
- 2009 – Inauguration of the next generation of cable cars that had already been purchased and are on display at the base of Red beach.