RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue has been fitted with new gear to protect it from future storms.
Rio de Janeiro Archbishop Orani Tempesta on Friday presided over a ceremony marking the end of repairs that were made to the 98-foot-tall (30-meter-tall) hilltop figure.
The repair project began six months ago after lightning damaged two fingers on the statue as well as its head. Crews installed new lightning rods as part of the $850,000 project.
Tourists were able to visit the statue during the repair work. The site’s spectacular views of Rio make it one of Brazil’s most popular attractions.
The statue was inaugurated in 1931 and underwent a $4 million renovation in 2010.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
