The Tallest Statues of Jesus Christ in the World

Probably the most famous statue of Jesus on the planet, known for both size and location, is the statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (pictured above). You would be forgiven for thinking that this was the largest statue of Jesus in the world too – yet you would be mistaken.  The Jesus who towers above the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio is only the fourth largest statue of the Christ on Earth.  Take a look at some of the others - they get bigger as you go along.

Cristo Rey - Mexico
Height 20.5 m (67 feet)

Image Credit Flickr User gtoexperience

The Christ the King statue sits atop of the hill named after a gambling implement of all things – a dice cup.  The hill,Cerro del Cubilete (more of a mountain if the truth be told) is 2,700 meters high and is situated in the state of Guanajuato in Mexico.

The Silky Anteater – Cute Catnapper of the Canopy

The silky anteater is the smallest species of anteater on the planet.  It’s probably the cutest too, if you take a look at this wonderful set of pictures on our sibling site, the Ark in Space.  The accompanying article is full of interesting facts. It’s nocturnal and when it sleeps during the day it does so in a way that just ramps up the cute quotient to the limit.  Its almost prehensile tail helps in maintaining its peculiar contortions while it sleeps – but it dozes in these positions for very good reasons.  It is unlikely that you will see anything cuter today (even though it does, admittedly, devour thousands of ants every day). Pop over to the Ark in Space to read the full article and go aawww at the pictures.

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The Frogs that Carry Their Tadpoles on Their Backs

You might not automatically put frogs on your list of good parents.  After all, they just seem to take to the water, spawn and leave.  Not these frogs, however. There are a number of species who go against this amphibious grain and look after their tadpoles with something approaching devotion (not that I want to anthropomorphize too much).  These species actually carry their tadpoles around on their backs.  Find out what they do this over at the Ark in Space today, replete with a great selection of photographs of tadpole carrying frogsters.

Image Credit Flickr User Pasha Kirillov

The Strange Sarcophagi of the Chachapoya

By the time the Spanish arrived in Peru at the beginning of the 16th Century the Chachapoya people had already been subsumed in to the great Inca Empire.  Although they had resisted the Incas fiercely, the lands of these Warriors of the Clouds as they were known had been annexed and had been forced to adopt the customs and culture of their conquerors. Yet they left one thing behind – the strange sarcophagi in which they would bury their dead.

Image Credit Flickr User Sophs74

Las Lajas Sanctuary: The South American Church that Looks Like a European Castle

If you take the immediate exterior of the Las Lajas Sanctuary in Colombia it doesn’t look too much like an atypical South American Catholic church. Yet it retains many of their qualities: it is ornate, richly elaborate and, to many eyes, beautiful.  Just another minor basilica church in a country dotted with them, you might think.  Yet take a few steps back from the door of the church and look down. You are in for a surprise.

Image Credit Flickr User Onourownpath

The Amazing Monkey Orchid

Nature doesn’t need an audience. These wonderful orchids come from the south-eastern Ecuadorian and Peruvian cloud forests from elevations of 1000 to 2000 meters and as such not many people throughout history got to see them. However, thanks to intrepid collectors we do get to see this wonderful Monkey Orchid. Someone didn’t need much imagination to name it though, let’s face it.

Image Credit Columbus GV Team

Its scientific name is Dracula simia, the last part nodding towards the fact that this remarkable orchid bears more than a passing resemblance to a monkey’s face – although we won’t go as far as to be species specific on this one. The Dracula (genus) part of its name refers to the strange characteristic of the two long spurs of the sepals, reminiscent of the fangs of a certain Transylvanian count of film and fiction fame.

Explore Nicaragua's Masaya National Park

Located just an hour from Granada by car and about 20 kilometers from Managua, Masaya National Park is Nicaragua’s largest and first national park and home to the shield volcano Masaya, or “La Boca del Infierno” (“Mouth of Hell”), which the Spaniards named the active volcano after planting a cross on the crater lip during the 16th century in order to exorcise the devil. The Masaya Volcano National Park includes two volcanoes and five craters within a 54 square kilometer area. The volcanic complex is made up of a nested set of calderas and craters.

Both volcanoes have erupted several times throughout history, causing the local indigenous people and the Spanish conquerors to fear the volcanoes’ wrath. The eruptions have dramatically affected the landscape of the surrounding area, and rocks and volcanic ash still cover the terrain around the volcanoes. In addition, a variety of vegetation began to form after the eruptions, helping create a rough, but tranquil setting. The park is also inhabited by many different animals, including coyotes, skunks, raccoons, opossums, deer, iguanas, and monkeys.

Although the air is overwhelmed by the stench of sulfur, which invades your nostrils and mouth every time the wind blows, the stunning views of the park and the surrounding area make this gnarly smell worth withstanding. Visitors can view the massive crater that consistently emits smoke and sulfur gas by taking a look over the edge of the Masaya Volcano.

After taking some shots at the edge of hell’s mouth, those who wish to explore the volcano can take a brief hike through the narrow trails and pathways of the volcano. Be sure to stop along the way to check out the craters and vegetation that grows in areas that were untouched when the volcano last erupted. Hikers can opt to explore the park during the day or take a night tour that begins at dusk and includes a tour of the Tzinaconostoc Cave, which was formed by lava streams and is home to over 300,000 bats.

After dark you can stand at one entrance of the cave and snap photos of these rats with wings that dwell in this underground tunnel. The hike ends with a visit to the highest viewpoint of the volcano’s mouth where flowing lava seeps through the crater opening. Looking down at the glowing, bright orange light creeping through the dark entrance of the volcano makes it easy to understand why the Spanish named it La Boca del Infierno.

Hiking trails vary in distance and can be anywhere between 1.4 and 5.9 kilometers, taking about an hour to trek. All hikes are organized by knowledgeable tour guides and aren't too strenuous or difficult; just be sure to wear sturdy shoes and comfy clothing, which can be found at retailers like Marks and Spencer. The park contains a visitors’ centre where you can get information about the Masaya National Park and its volcanoes, book a tour, and learn about other aspects of the park such as the flora and fauna that inhabit the area. Remember to check out the other volcanoes that exist in the region during your stay in Nicaragua.

Walk of the Immigrants – The Next Step

In 2010 Saul Flores (above) walked across ten countries to raise awareness about the issues facing people living in South America.  The Mexican-American student did this by creating a photographic record of his journey – which came to be known as The Walk of the Immigrants. The pictures you see here are all from Saul’s immense walk.

Saul captured his journey on camera to show the commonalities that we all have as people. His aim was not to simply record the lives of these people but by doing so to raise money to rebuild the dilapidated elementary school in his mother’s home town of Atencingo in Mexico. His journey inspired many people to help out – and enough money was raised to rebuild the school. Yet much more needs to be done.

Patagonian Chile – A Land of Contrasts

Patagonia is a region situated at the southern end of South America, with territory belonging to both Argentina and Chile. This superb short film shows the lesser known Chilean part of Patagonia and once you finish watching it you will be scratching your head as to why – the landscapes are simply stunning.

The main locations used here were the Torres del Paine National Park, the Cerro Castillo National Park, Tamango Reserve, Queulat National Park and Chacabuco valley among others. The film was created by Raúl Tomás Granizo, who was raised in Spain but fell in love with Patagonia – and you can see why. He is the founder of wildglimpses, and is a freelance wildlife filmmaker and nature photographer always looking for the essence of nature. We think he has captured it supremely here!

The Burrowing Owl – The Smallest Species of Owl

You may have already guessed how this owl gets its name but that isn’t the only remarkable thing about it. The burrowing owl is the smallest of the owl species and as you can see from the photograph above even ground squirrels look large beside it, even though it is behind the birds.  The Ark in Space has a feature on this enchanting and unusual raptor.

Image Credit Flickr User Annette's Photography

The Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca

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Floating islands? It may sound like something out of a Jonathan Swift novel, but to the Uros people it is a fact of every day life. This small tribe of South American indigents retain a great deal of a culture that goes back millennia and one whose unique domestic arrangements stem from that age old fear – the dread of suppression by other, stronger and more populous peoples.

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Lake Titicaca itself affords a deal of protection. Isolated and over three thousand meters above sea level, the lake itself offers – simply by its relative isolation (even in modern day Peru) – some protection from the unwanted attentions of others. However, at some point before recorded history a member of the Uros had the bright idea to do something extraordinary with the reeds that grow prolifically along the banks of the lake – the largest in South America (by volume).

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The reeds themselves are malleable enough to dry out, bundle and shape in to boats which float quite nicely. With a leap of the imagination, the original Uros saw the possibility for a system of domiciles which, in case of emergency, could be moved away from the mainland. Although they only number in the low thousands, it is thought that around five hundred of the Uros still choose to live in this ancient manner – though with some concessions to the modern world!

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The tortora reed islands are meticulously created by hand and are a continually evolving habitat for the Uros. Although the reed used for the island is not as painstakingly ‘woven’ as that used for their boats, the construction of the islands represents an enormous workload for the people of the tribe. The islands themselves must be several meters thick in order to support the homes and associated buildings of the Uros.

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The tortora has interweaving roots which create a dense layer (up to two meters thick) on top of which the islands themselves develop. Anchorage is provided by drilling large logs through the island to the base of the lake. Ropes are then attached to these logs to give the islands stability. Even so, the reeds constantly rot away and the islanders must replace them constantly. Each island will go through this process at least four times a year – more when the rains come. However, there is reward for all of this hard work as each island has a lifespan of around thirty years.

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Traditionally there are around forty small islands on the lake with one – the largest – being the focal point of the community. The reed, as well as being – quite literally – the foundation of the community, is important to the Uros’ economy and well being. Iodine is produced from the base of the reed and it is also used for general medicinal purposes. The reeds are wrapped around parts of the body that are hurting and, purportedly – cure it of its aches and pains! The flower of the reed is also used to brew up a cuppa!

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Like many unique cultures around the world, that of the Uros is under threat from assimilation. Most of the Uros speak Aymara – which is the language of a larger local tribe that is resolutely mainland. It is thought that they lost their own language around five hundred years ago. Whether the language was naturally lost or Aymara was forced upon the Uros is not known, but the relatively recent arrival of Europeans has been the greatest threat to their cultural identity – greater than that of the Inca Empire – to which the Uros had to pay taxes and give up many of their own people as slaves.

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Although numerically a small people, the Uros seem to have adopted the aspects of European society which suits them. Many of them use solar panels on their reed homes to run television sets and other electronic appliances. The largest of the islands has a radio station which broadcasts for several hours each day and the concept of group education for the children in the form of two schools has also been adopted. However, great care is taken to preserve the culture of the Uros, with one of the schools given over entirely to traditional learning.

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There are not, however, any modern cookers on the island so the question naturally arises of how the Uros cook without setting the reeds on fire and destroying their home! What they do is to create a pile of stones high enough to create a fire on top without the heat being strong enough to start an inflagration.

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Another question which is also always asked is how do the Uros ensure that their island remain sanitary, with several hundred people having to answer the call of nature. They do this by creating very small island near the larger ones which are used only for this very specific purpose! The waste is absorbed by the tortora reeds and helps towards the next healthy crop!

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In order to sustain their meager economy the Uros also must accommodate the large amounts of curious tourists who are drawn to these forty or so islands to observe this unique way of life. Many Uros family have a room in their home which is dedicated to tourist usage and guests are welcome to stay overnight. Few concessions are made to the tourists in terms of what might be called mod-cons but there is a traditional dance every night, when the tourists are encouraged to dress up in traditional Uros dress and join in. One suspects that the Uros may well look upon this is a quietly done practical joke on their westernized visitors!

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It can only be hoped that this small, unique and vibrant culture can survive the demands placed upon it by external forces. Certainly it would be a shame if the world was to lose yet another intriguing and vital, if tiny, aspect of humanity to the ogre of global homogenization.

The Marble Cathedral of General Carrera Lake

Image Credit Flickr User Noelegroj

Shared by Argentina and Chile the deepest lake in South America is famous for its trout and salmon fishing. The waters of General Carrera Lake are beautiful, a glittering combination of emerald, turquoise, aquamarine and azure. The sky may be blue but the waters seem bluer still. 

However along its banks, directly below the Andes, sheer marble cliffs present themselves to further astound the visitor.  Over the millennia they have been weathered and folded to create a stunning cathedral of marble.

Image Credit Flickr User Noelegroj

Image Credit Flickr User Noelgroj

Image Credit Flickr User Noelgroj

From a distance the lake looks magnificent, although when you get closer its dazzling beauty becomes ever more apparent. The passageways and caverns formed over vast stretches of time are sometimes large enough for small boats to glide through. Albeit precariously.  It does not take long to become enchanted by Las Cavernas de Marmol as this exquisite labyrinth is known locally. Perhaps even the most cynical jaw might drop at this majestic sight.

Image Credit Flickr User Ricardo Gallardo

Image Credit Flickr User Noelegroj

Image Credit Flickr User Noelgroj

As well as being the deepest lake in South America, General Carrera Lake is the biggest lake in Chile with a surface area of almost a thousand square kilometers.  It is 200 km long, at an altitude of 350 meters and has a maximum depth of 590 meters. It is known as Lake Buenos Aires by the Argentineans.

Image Credit Flickr User Ricardo Gallardo

Image Credit Flickr User Noelegroj

Image Credit Flickr User Noelegroj

The marble protrusions stretch along a beachside and are around 300 meters in length. The waters of the lake have slowly impacted upon the marble and, in their infinite patience, have created something of enormous, almost bewildering beauty, like gigantic walls and caverns of marble medallions. The rock manifests different tones which are dependent upon the natural impurities within the marble. Although the white banks, of immense purity are predominant blue and pink marble banks can also be seen due to the presence of other minerals within the rock.

Image Credit Flickr User Noelegroj

Image Credit Flickr User Noelgroj

Strictly speaking, although the Marble Cathedral is spoken of as one formation, in truth it is three. The largest is El Catedral – the Cathedral. There are two smaller formations which are known as La Capilla – the Chapel which rise from the lake, and La Cueva - the Cave.

Image Credit Flickr User Feffef

Image Credit Flickr User Feffef

It has been estimated that these vast sections of marble weigh 5000 million tonnes and consist of 94% calcium carbonate. The area is not in the one of the most hospitable areas of the world but it is lucky.  Although the region is cold and humid the lake enjoys a sunny microclimate. So although you may be cold getting there, once you are there you should be warm!

Image Credit Flickr User Gripe1976

Image Credit Flickr User Grip1976

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Although the lake has been known by Europeans for little over a hundred years, they were not the first to discover the beauties of the lake. The indigenous people of the region, the Tehuelches, a once nomadic tribe also known as the Patagons have inhabited the region for thousands of years.  Their name means the fierce people. They must have been to make their way through the isolated strips of plains through which the lake can be accessed on the Argentinean side.

Image credit Flickr User Feffef

Image Credit Flickr User Claudio

Image Credit Flickr User Claudio

These stunning pictures represent quite an achievement on behalf of the photographers.  Not only are the caves difficult to reach but the lake itself, being so large, can develop swells and waves which make photography quite a challenge. Often, as only small boats can navigate the caves, the journey becomes impossible after a certain point.  Although this would, perhaps, be one of the most beautiful places on earth in which to expire, most photographers are somewhat reluctant to embrace this destiny.

Image Credit Flickr User Claudio

Image Credit Flickr User  Claudio

Image Credit Flickr User Naturaleza

However, it is easy to imagine how the traveler may be inclined to stay in this amazing place much longer than they had originally anticipated. However, there is a problem in this particular paradise.  The Hidroaysen company intends to build five mega hydroelectric facilities in the basins of Baker and Pascua rivers in Chilean Patagonia, destroying the banks of its reservoirs, the original ecosystem, rich fauna and local culture.  To find out more, please visit the Save Patagonia or Patagonia Without Dams websites.

Image Credit Flickr User Rotholandus

Kuriositas would like to thank Flickr Users Jorge Leon Cabello, Orlando Contreras López, and Ricardo Gallardo for their kind permission in allowing us to share their marvellous photographs with you.  Please visit their Flickr Photostreams.