Brazil Jesus. Jesus christ statue, rio de janeiro, brazil

One of the most famous statues in the world and certainly the most recognizable in Brazil is the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Installed on Mount Corcovado at an altitude of more than 700 meters, with outstretched arms in a blessing gesture, it looks at the huge city below it. The statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro, due to its fame, attracts millions of tourists to Mount Corcovado. From its height, a beautiful view of the ten-millionth city with its bays, beaches, the Maracanã stadium opens up.

Statue of Christ in Rio: history and description

In 1884, a small railway was built on the mountain, along which building materials were delivered just later. The reason for the erection of the monument of Christ was the approaching centenary of the independence of Brazil in 1922. Fundraising was announced to create a monument in what was then the capital of Brazil. For example, the magazine "O Cruzeiro" collected about 2.2 million reais from its subscription. The church, represented by Archbishop Sebastian Leme, was also actively involved in the preparation of the financial fund.

The idea of Christ with outstretched arms, resembling a cross from a distance, belongs to the artist Carlos Osvaldo. According to this first layout, the statue of Christ was supposed to stand on the globe. The final project, according to which the sculpture was created, was created by Heitor da Silva Costa. According to it, the height of the structure is 38 meters, of which 8 meters goes to the pedestal, and the arm span reaches 28 meters. With such striking dimensions, the total weight of the structure was 1145 tons.

Brazilian technology at that time did not allow most of the work on the implementation of such a project, so all the details of the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil were created in France, from where they were safely delivered to Brazil and according to the built railway climbed to the installation site. From the end of the railway to the statue itself, a path of 220 steps was built, called "Karakol". I wonder what's inside basement monument is a chapel.

The construction of the monument took about nine years. The opening and consecration of the statue took place on October 12, 1931. The statue quickly assumed the role of a symbol of Rio de Janeiro and all of Brazil. And in 2007 she was elected one of the

The final project, according to which the sculpture was created, was created by Heitor da Silva Costa. According to it, the height of the structure is 38 meters, of which 8 meters goes to the pedestal, and the arm span reaches 28 meters. With such striking dimensions, the total weight of the structure was 1145 tons.

Brazilian technology at that time did not allow most of the work on the implementation of such a project, so all the details of the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil were created in France, from where they were safely delivered to Brazil and lifted to the installation site by the built railway. From the end of the railway to the statue itself, a path of 220 steps was built, called "Karakol". Interestingly, there is a chapel inside the basement of the monument.

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Statue of Christ the Redeemer: history and location

Where is the statue of Christ the Redeemer

Many have seen images of a huge statue of Jesus Christ with arms spread wide. Its correct name is the statue of Christ the Redeemer. It rises above the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and is located not far from it on the peak of Mount Corcovado. A chic view is this statue in the evening. Illuminated by pillars of light, the figure of Christ seems to be descending into the sleeping city. In Rio de Janeiro, no matter where you look, you will always see this huge statue, which seems to be striving to embrace the whole world with its gigantic arms.

The history of the creation of the statue of Christ the Redeemer

Since ancient times, the mountain on which the statue rises was called the Mountain of Temptation and was mentioned in the Bible. Later, in the Middle Ages, it was called Corcovado, which means "hunchback". This name was given to her in connection with a bizarre shape that resembled a hump. The first expedition to this mountain went in 1824.

For the first time, the idea of creating a statue of Christ on Mount Corcovado came up with the Catholic clergyman Pedro Maria Boss in 1859. When he arrived in Rio de Janeiro, the magnificent view of the mountain overwhelmed him. Then Father Pedro decided to ask Princess Isabella, daughter of the Emperor of Brazil, to finance this project. And to ensure the success of his business, he proposed to name the statue in honor of the princess. However, in those days, the state could not afford such a large expense, so the decision to erect the statue was postponed until 1889. However, even then the plan of Father Pedro was not destined to come true. The church was separated from the state during the change in the form of government, and the clergy could no longer ask for funding for such projects.

In 1884, the construction of the railway was completed, which ran just up to Mount Corcovado. Later, materials for the construction of the statue were brought along this road.

The idea of building a statue of Christ the Redeemer was remembered only in 1921.

Then, at the initiative of the Catholic organizations of Rio de Janeiro, it was decided to erect a statue on Mount Corcovado, colossal in size, which could be seen from any part of the city. This monument was to become not only a symbol of Christianity, but also a symbol of the liberation and revival of the country. During the week activists collected signatures and donations, this period was called "Monument Week". The inhabitants of the city liked this idea, they willingly donated various amounts of money. Of course, the church also made considerable financial investments. The erection of the statue of Christ the Redeemer is a real folk project.

The erection of the statue of the "fathers of the city" was also inspired by the fact that very soon, in 1922, Brazil was to celebrate 100 years of independence from Portugal. Therefore, they decided to start building the monument as soon as possible. April 22, 1921 is considered the start date for the creation of the statue of Christ the Redeemer. It was decided to build a monument of reinforced concrete and soapstone.

For the version of the statue that now towers over Rio de Janeiro, we should be grateful to the engineer Heitor da Silva Costa. It was he who suggested depicting Christ with arms outstretched to the sides. The meaning of this pose lies in the phrase "Everything that exists is in the hands of the Lord."

The artist Carlos Oswald completed the image of Christ, and the calculations for the installation of the monument were made by Costa Hisses, Pedro Viana and Heitor Levy. In 1927, everything was ready for the erection of the statue of Christ the Redeemer - from drawings and calculations to materials.

The records of those times say that everyone involved in the project was inspired and made every effort. Some engineers and artists even pitched tents and lived near the site where the statue was erected.

An interesting fact is that foreigners also helped the Brazilians in the construction of this monument. For example, the head and hands of Christ were made of plaster in France by the sculptor Paul Landowski and later shipped to Brazil. Also, many French engineers participated in the development of drawings. They also suggested using a reinforced concrete frame, although before that it was decided to make a steel frame. And the soapstone from which the outer layer of the statue was made was brought from Sweden. This material was most suitable for such a colossal structure due to its strength and ease of use.

The erection of the statue lasted about 4 years and, finally, in 1931, a solemn ceremony of opening the statue of Christ the Redeemer took place. The size and complexity of the execution of the monument struck then all those present at the ceremony. There were tears in the eyes of many believers. And after many years, people continue to be amazed by this truly gigantic structure, which carries a hidden meaning.

The greatness of the statue of Christ the Redeemer

Every year thousands of tourists and pilgrims make long haul to admire the majesty of the statue of Christ the Redeemer. At the same time, the huge and meek figure of Christ spreads his arms over Rio de Janeiro, and maybe the whole world, as if embracing and protecting him. This monument has been recognized as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World. Its height is 38 meters, the arm span is 30 meters, and the monument weighs 1145 tons.

An interesting fact is that during the strongest storm that swept through Rio de Janeiro on July 10, 2008 and caused a lot of destruction to the city, it did not affect the statue of Christ the Redeemer in any way. Even the lightning that hit her left no trace. Pragmatists associate this with the dielectric properties of soapstone, and believers, of course, attach sacred meaning to this fact.

It is known that the city of Rio de Janeiro is one of the main cities in Brazil, especially for tourists. In addition, he retained the former glory and beauty of the capital until 1960. The statue of Jesus Christ amazingly decorates the city, gives everyone a sense of security. It glows at night and can be seen from afar. I lived far away, under the mountain, but even from there I watched the bright purple light of Jesus hovering at night.

However, the statue is not visible from all parts of Rio de Janeiro. The mountain on which it stands is called Corcovado, translated as “hump”. It is really curved in this form and is perfect for the construction of such a masterpiece. Its height is 704 meters!

How was the monument invented?

I was wondering where the origins of the sights come from. In 1885, a railroad was made to Mount Corcovado, and a steam locomotive began to fly up. It was the very first electrified road in Brazil! At first, the transport came in handy to take the cargo. Over time, it has become the main transport artery for tourists.

It all started back in 1922. It was the year of the centenary since the country gained independence, and then it was decided to create a unique monument that will become a symbol of Brazil. What will make the country even more famous?

There was a competition for the best offer. The idea of Hector da Silva Costa was liked by all the members of the jury. It was an unequivocal decision, approved by the Catholic diocese. The city gained protection in the form of the hands-birds of Jesus Christ. The monument was built with the money of parishioners too.

I am very interested in the fact that a “Monument Week” was held, as a result of which the people of Brazil themselves raised money by a coin. Even today the amount is significant - 250 thousand dollars. At that time it was a lot of money. This showed the obvious interest of the common people in the construction of the monument and the enormous solidarity of the Brazilians. The entire construction took 9 years. The sculpture was made in France. There was even an idea to make Jesus Christ who holds the globe in his hands, but the final version was invented by Paul Landowski. A master from Romania, George Leonida, also worked on it. Many factors were taken into account, first of all, that a thunderstorm, rain and strong wind at a height should not disturb the statue.

The history of the creation of the monument

The sculpture was transported across the ocean in a disassembled state. I was delighted that all 10 years of construction the sculptors selflessly and ascetically lived in the forest on the mountain under a simple canopy. It turned out a miracle! The height of the statue's pedestal is 8 meters, so the total height of the monument is 38 meters. On Mount Corcovado, a total weight of 1145 tons had to be lifted. Of these, the gigantic Jesus Christ weighs 635 tons.

It is interesting that the sculpture is constantly exposed to wind, rain and lightning, it is good that this was taken into account during construction.

Damaged areas are quickly restored, for this the church keeps a supply of similar stones. The material of the statue is reinforced concrete and talc chloride. Even the strongest hurricanes in Rio do not touch the statue. There is an idea that it is protected by divine power. From a scientific point of view, the soapstone at the base of the material simply extinguishes lightning. In October 1931, its grand opening took place. The monument was illuminated by Pope Paul 6 in 1965.

The history of the creation of the illumination of Jesus Christ

The illumination of Jesus Christ was also created only in 1930. First, they asked a professional from Rome to conduct it in a completely extraordinary way with the help of a radio wave. They did, but during the rain the equipment began to work poorly, and I immediately had to replace it with a local, simpler one.

Only in 2000, after all the work on the restoration of the monument, modern and best lighting was finally completed. Today, the monument of Jesus Christ appeared before me as new, clean, snow-white, without traces of corrosion, with luxurious stone stairs and railings, brightly lit with colored lights at night.

How to get to the statue

It is easier to get to the statue of Christ on your own without any tours. There is a metro nearby. The fare is approximately 1.5 dollars (5 reais). Get to Largo do Machado station and right at the exit, take one of the buses to Corcovado.

For example, bus No. 583 and No. 584 go back to the monument from Capacabana beach. Buses No. 570, 583, 574 go from Ipanema. The final stop is called Cosmo Velho, from where transport goes to the mountain. The fare is the same as the metro. Responsive locals are always happy to suggest the right bus.

Travel agencies for a fee of 12-15 dollars (40-50 reais) will take you there in half an hour by minibus upstairs if you are unable to stand in line for the train.

Climb up

Upstairs, to the statue itself, you can get in several ways:

All day they sell tickets for a train that makes its way straight through the jungle along a serpentine uphill - even quite scary. The cost of the trip is $15 (50 reais).
Another option is a bus that goes along the usual road up, also in the middle of the forest.

For me, traveling by train is much more romantic, especially since the windows are open and the movement is almost vertical among the trees. Below, mountain cliffs, forest hollows and ocean views gradually opened up in front of me. This is the Tijuca National Park, the largest forest area on the planet with an area within the city. I kept expecting to see a monkey or some other animal along the way.

There is a rather long queue for the train, tickets are sold for a specific time.

From 8.30 am to 18.30 pm, a train departs every 20 minutes. The capacity of the train, even from two cars, is large, and the queue goes quickly. I have watched people from all over the world patiently waiting for the rise. It's easy to make interesting acquaintances in line. Everywhere in the hall there are huge videos showing the train journey through the forest and what awaits you at the top. It's inspiring!

There is a small shop right in front of the entrance. I went there just to admire or to buy a small or medium statue of Christ as a souvenir worth 10-30 dollars (30-100 reais). There are other souvenirs with Brazilian symbols on average for 6 dollars (20 reais). Having waited in line, I rode on a train of two carriages; at stops, tireless merchants made money on those who did not have time to buy water. In my opinion, it is better to take the necessary food and soft drinks with you in advance.

Sites near the statue of Christ

It remains to walk from the station only 40 meters, and you, like me, will find yourself next to the wonder of the world. I climbed exactly 220 steps, it's quite easy. Such moments are remembered for a long time.

The staircase has a special name - "Karakol" or "Snail". There are also escalators, but it's not so interesting! In my opinion, the statue has a special inner strength, invested in it both by the creators, parishioners, endless visitors, and by the image itself. Millions of people are attracted here, the line does not stop. The height of Jesus is 30 meters, the width of the arms embracing the city is 23 meters. The left hand is directed to the northern part of Rio de Janeiro, and the right hand to the south side of the city. Thus, the statue is almost opposite the center.

Standing nearby, it no longer seems that the monument is large, you don’t even want to think about it, you get a feeling of solemnity of the moment and a desire to be alone with the statue, which is impossible. I had the feeling that he really hugs everyone with love. Near Jesus is snow-white.

Overview of Rio de Janeiro from Mount Corcovado

The view from above of the coastline and the city is stunning, with thin clouds slowly drifting through the statue. According to my observations, it is better to choose a sunny day, this is very important. AT clear weather the view will be stunning - all the beaches and the coastline of the most beautiful city are in full view! Moreover, the observation decks are made in a circle and you can observe Rio from different sides.

Usually I go around viewing platforms from all sides, because the picture is different everywhere. Of course, the most interesting thing is the line of the ocean. Before us was a view of the entire Ipanema beach, the Maracanã stadium and the nearest mountain range. Despite the abundance of people, find a place for good photos always possible.

I got on observation deck overcast day, but the view was still amazing. It was interesting for me to look at the world from above, to understand how small everything really is and that everything is different from the height of Jesus Christ: ordinary joys and problems are no longer so significant and big.

It always makes me a little tired a large number of people should probably go there in the morning rather than in the afternoon. There are most people here during rush hour. Everyone should definitely take a standard photo with a statue of Christ behind, spreading their arms in the same way. A queue is forming.

Of course, and I succumbed to the general mood and did standard photo. Although original variants take pictures against the backdrop of the monument set. The sites are large and there is enough space for everyone to take the necessary view shots.

Back carries the same trailer, tickets are sold there and back. I got the feeling that people are rushing up the mountain to the monument just because it’s simply impossible not to come here while in Rio.

Chapel

The plinth of the statue is made of marble, where a small chapel is harmoniously inscribed. It was opened quite recently - in 2006 on the day of the 75th anniversary of the statue. The Archbishop of Rio, Cardinal of Rio de Janeiro, Euzebio Shade, consecrated the chapel, named after the patroness of Rio, Saint Senora Aparecida. It is convenient to carry out all church rituals in this chapel; 100 people can be there at the same time. A little lower is the church shop.

When I saw this chapel inside, I immediately wanted to enter. It was cool and blissful there, and most importantly, quite secluded, and I wanted to sit there for a while.

Statue of Jesus Christ for everyone

In my opinion, the statue deservedly entered in 2007 in the list of the seven New Wonders of the World. There are very good reasons for this: cash and religious aspirations of ordinary inhabitants of the country, masters from different countries and continents, it took a decade to build it. Installing a large monument at such a height, even with today's technology, is very difficult. However, the most important thing is the image that the statue carries and which attracts people.

For some reason, it was in Brazil, thousands of kilometers from the historical homeland of Jesus Christ, that his very famous monument, which perfectly reflects the consciousness of a holy person. It is unconditional and all-encompassing love for everyone and everything, which is the best protection. It is shown on a specific bright material example made of white stone, understandable for any person who has come to visit.

From the top of Mount Corcovado, an amazing view opens up - a long strip of Copacabana beach, Sugar Loaf peak, and of course, the city, the magical city of Rio de Janeiro! From this point, perhaps, it is impossible to consider only the symbol of the metropolis and the symbol of Brazil - the Statue of Christ the Redeemer, because we are located directly at its foot

The statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro is one of the most famous and popular monuments in the world. Every year, millions of tourists rise to its foot, from where a stunning panorama of the city and the bay opens with the picturesque Sugar Loaf Mountain (port. - Pan di Azucar), the famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, a huge bowl of the Maracana stadium.

An electrified railway (the first in Brazil) leads to the top, with a miniature train running along it. It was built by engineers Pereira Passos and Terceira Soares long before the statue of Christ - in 1882-1884, and subsequently played a big role in the construction of the monument: Construction Materials

You can also get to the statue by car on the freeway passing through the Tijuca State Reserve. Tijuca is the largest urban forest in the world.

In 1921, the upcoming centenary of Brazil's national independence (1922) inspired the city fathers - Rio de Janeiro was then the capital of Brazil - to create a monument to Christ the Redeemer. O Cruzeiro magazine announced a fundraiser for a subscription to the construction of the monument. The campaign generated 2.2 million flights. The church also joined the fundraising: the then Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, don Sebastian Leme, took a great part in the creation of the monument. The construction of the statue lasted about nine years - from 1922 to 1931

The original sketch of the monument was developed by the artist Carlos Oswald. It was he who suggested depicting Christ with arms outstretched in a gesture of blessing, which would make the figure look like a huge cross from afar. In the original version, the pedestal for the statue was supposed to be in the shape of a globe. The final design of the monument was developed by the Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa (Heitor da Silva Costa)

Since for a number of reasons, including technological ones, it was then impossible to create such a huge sculpture in Brazil, all its details, including the frame, were made in France. In 1924 the French sculptor Paul Landowski finished modeling the statue's head (3.75 meters high) and arms. Unassembled, all the details of the monument were delivered to Brazil and transported by rail to the top of Mount Corcovado. From the end point of the rail track to the foot of the statue, a winding staircase of 220 steps was built, nicknamed "Karakol" ("Snail"), and in the thickness of the marble base - a small chapel

On October 12, 1931, the grand opening and consecration of the monument, which became the symbol of Rio de Janeiro, took place.

In 1965, the statue was re-consecrated by Pope Paul VI, and in 1981, Pope John Paul II attended the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the monument.

Over the past 75 years, the statue has been repaired twice - in 1980 and 1990. In 1932 and 2000, the night illumination system was upgraded. In 2003, the lift leading to the observation deck was equipped with escalators.

In 2007, the statue was selected as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. We present a series interesting facts about this incredible building:

At the statue Christ the Redeemer there are several doppelgangers. For example, the statue of Christo Rei (Christ the King), which is located in Lisbon (built in 1949-1959). Her height is about 28 meters, but instead of a hill, a pedestal about 80 meters high is used.
In Vung Tau (Vietnam), a similar statue of Christ with outstretched arms was erected in 1972. It stands on a small hill (132 meters high) and has following parameters: height - 32 meters, and arm span, a little less than 20 meters.
On the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia (a Muslim country!) in 2007, they completed the construction of a 30-meter giant depicting Jesus Christ stretching his arms over the metropolis of Monado.
There is even a stone Jesus Christ in East Timor, near the capital of the state - Dili (the height of the monument is 27 meters).
Sculptures depicting Jesus were also erected in Malta, the Dominican Republic, Italy, and Honduras. It is planned to build similar monuments in Slovakia and Germany.
The very statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro is often identified with other grandiose architectural structures of the past and present -

The majestic statue of Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) is located in the city of Rio de Janeiro. This grandiose building on Mount Corcovado is a tourist symbol of Brazil, classified as a new wonder of the world. The height of Corcovado is 800 m, and installed on its top famous statue– 38 m (together with an 8 m marble pedestal).

A giant statue of Christ with outstretched arms spanning 28 m from a distance looks like a cross. Despite the weight exceeding a thousand tons, the monument looks elegant. From its foot opens a bewitching panorama of the city, which is admired by about 2 million tourists every year.

Creation of a statue of Christ

The name of the mountain is translated as "Hunchback". In 1859, she was seen by a visitor to Rio de Janeiro catholic priest Pedro Maria Boss. He approached the Brazilian princess Isabel of Braganza with the idea of building a large sculpture of the Savior on top of Corcovado. He was supported in the church environment, but the state did not have the opportunity to finance such an expensive project. The idea was postponed until better times, but for now they limited themselves to the construction of a railway line reaching the top of Corcovado.

They returned to the idea in 1921, on the eve of the centennial anniversary of the country's independence. public money there was still no construction for the building, especially since by that time the church had been separated from the state, which had become a republic.

Catholic organizations decided to add donations from citizens to their own funds. They were told that if they managed to raise the necessary amount, then the construction of a monument to Christopher Columbus planned on the mountain Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf) would be cancelled. Brazilians do not really favor Columbus, considering him the culprit of the Portuguese colonization of the country. Per a short time managed to collect 2.2 million flights (so plural the Brazilian currency was then pronounced real), so the monument is a real folk project.

The winner of the competition announced by the mayor of Rio de Janeiro was local artist Carlos Oswald. He is the author of a sketch of a sculpture with outstretched arms, at a distance resembling a huge cross: "Come to Me, all you who are laboring and burdened, and I will give you rest." According to his idea, the Savior had to stand on a spherical pedestal, symbolizing the Earth. However, the technical difficulties of implementation forced us to stop at rectangular base, erected by engineer Hector de Silva Costa.

The design and construction participants worked with great enthusiasm. Some of them even lived in tents near the construction site.

The components of the statue itself were made in France, which had a greater technical potential than Brazil. The materials for the manufacture of steel were reinforced concrete and soapstone (called soapstone). The latter was specially imported from Sweden, from the Lymhamn field. The final modeling of the head and hands of Christ was carried out by the French specialist Paul Landowski with assistants.

Finished components were delivered to Rio de Janeiro. This is where the old railway line came in handy. On it, the details of the sculpture were raised to its future location - the top of Corcovado, where the final installation was carried out.

The construction took 9 years instead of the planned year.

The monument was solemnly opened and consecrated in 1931.

Rising above the surrounding area, the statue regularly receives lightning strikes. However, they did not cause serious damage to the monument. It was also bypassed by the extreme storm of 2008, which destroyed the nearby neighborhoods of Rio. Believers tend to associate this fact with the holiness of the place. The prosaic explanation boils down to the excellent dielectric properties of soapstone. The local Catholic diocese has a permanent supply of it.
After statues of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil sculptures similar in composition were installed in Lisbon, Italy, the Dominican Republic, Malta, Indonesia, Vietnam, and East Timor. There are even underwater sculptures that have received the name "Christ from the Abyss".
The initial illumination was carried out using radio waves remotely controlled from Rome. The distance from it to Rio is 9200 km.

Modernity

The monument was restored three times - in 1980, 1990 and 2010. Night illumination was modernized in 1932 and 2000. In 2011, on the day of the city, the statue received new lighting, consisting of 300 computer-controlled LED spotlights. It allows you to optimally select the intensity of radiation and color scheme each of them.

The statue of Christ the Redeemer makes a particularly stunning impression in dark time days. The backlight creates the effect of light radiation coming from the giant figure of the Savior descending into the city. Religious people remember His inspired words: "I am the light of the world..." and "I am with you all the days until the end of time."

From the foot you can see an impressive panorama of Rio de Janeiro with the Bay of Baía da Guanabara, the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, the Pão de Açúcar mountain and the Estádio do Maracanã stadium. True, not in rainy weather, when only fog and clouds are visible.

There is a small chapel in the marble plinth of the pedestal, where services, baptisms and weddings are regularly held. There is a gift shop nearby. It is not difficult to guess the most popular souvenirs. In the city they are much cheaper.

Cristo Redentor is one of the most popular travel brands. Spectacular shooting of the monument can be seen in a number of films.

How to get there

The statue is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. To the top of Mount Corcovado from the city center can be reached by taxi or funicular. A train of two trailers runs from 08:30 to 18:30 every half hour, and takes tourists to the mountain in 20 minutes. The cost of a round-trip ticket is 51 BRL (Brazilian reais).

Both of these vehicles pass through Parque Nacional da Tijuca, the world's largest urban forest. Both the car and the train do not reach the monument. A steep staircase of 223 steps leads to it. Climbing it is difficult for children, the weak and the elderly. A convenient alternative is the escalator built in 2003. Wealthy travelers have the opportunity to book a helicopter tour for 150 USD.