Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sugar Loaf Mountain y
Guarding the entrance to Guanabara Bay, the
monolithic granite and quartz Sugar Loaf rises 1,300 ft
(396 m) above the waters of the southern Atlantic
Ocean. From the summit, it is easy to understand why
the early explorers believed that they had sailed into
the mouth of a great river they christened Rio de
Janeiro. The Sugar Loaf experience takes in two
mountains, Morro do Urca and Pão de Açúcar (Sugar
Loaf). It is possible to scale both these mountains via
organized climbs on most weekends. Demanding less
effort, the cable car, originally opened in 1912, stops
at the 705-ft (224-m) high Morro da Urca before
ascending to the summit.
The original 1912 cable car, a
remarkable feat of its times
The summit provides unforgettable
views out over Copacabana, Ipanema,
and the scenic Corcovado and Tijuca.
Pão de Açúcar
The name of Sugar Loaf,
adopted in the 19th century,
is assumed to have been
derived from the mountain's
shape, which resembles
conical clay molds used
earlier to refine sugar. The
Tupi Indians, however,
called it “Pau-nh-Açuquã”
(high, pointed, or
isolated hill).
Rock Climbing
Since British
nanny Henrietta
Carstairs made
the first recorded
solo ascent in
1817, climbing
the smooth Sugar
Loaf has become
a popular sport,
with over 60
known routes
to the towering
summit.
A scene from the film Moonraker
JAMES BOND'S MOONRAKER
In 1979, Sugar Loaf and the cable car
formed the backdrop for a main action
sequence in Moonraker , with Roger Moore
playing James Bond. In real life, the Great
Train Robber, Ronald Biggs, was kidnap-
ped in 1981 by a group of British merce-
naries from a restaurant, which was then
located next to the cable car station.
Ironically, during a first kidnap bid in
1979, the kidnappers had claimed to be
part of the Moonraker crew.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp366-9 and pp394-6
 
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