Sugar Loaf Tour (Rio de Janeiro -BRA) - Part 02

"BANDINHO PÃO DE AÇÚCAR: A WALKING THROUGH THE CLOUDS"

In 1817, a 39-year-old English mountaineer named Henrietta Carstairs became the first person to climb Sugarloaf Mountain. To celebrate, he left a flag of his country high above. Back then, the place was a challenge for a few brave climbers. Since the first cable car opened 102 years ago, all that has changed. Today, anyone can get to the top of the mountain - it's easy, just pay the cost of admission. Now, every day, thousands of people climb into vehicles that cross the sky between Morro da Urca and Pão de Açúcar.

The Sugar Loaf Mountain has caused emotion since it was first sighted by the Portuguese, in the 16th century. They named it because of the similarity to the clay containers in which Brazilian sugar was taken to Europe. The bluish granite massif was an important point of maritime defense. With Henrietta, it gained a new, more sporting attraction. In the 19th century, a few dozen people climbed the Sugarloaf Mountain. But it was only in 1908 that the engineer Augusto Ferreira Ramos decided to once and for all facilitate access to the site.

The first line began operating in 1912. The second, which led to Pão de Açúcar, was completed in 1913. Until 1972, they held 24 people per ride and made the journey in six minutes. A refurbishment increased the capacity to 75 passengers per trip and doubled speed. Only one thing hasn't changed: climbers keep looking for the place. There are almost 300 different climbing routes, and today the Pão de Açúcar, Urca and Babilônia hills make up the largest climbing center in Brazil.