Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro

How is the Christ the Redeemer statue protected from lightning?

The famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is often struck by lightning.

At last count, on average, it receives about five lightning strikes a year.

Her height is about 38 meters—that’s about 124 feet—and her location is on the high mountain plateau of Corcovado.

The statue’s stunning views of Guanabara Bay make it an ideal target for lightning during thunderstorms.

To protect the world-famous statue from destruction, lightning rods are installed on its shoulders.

These lightning rods consist of metal rods that direct lightning strikes into the ground, bypassing the statue and preventing damage to it.