A HOLIDAY CARD FROM MYRIAM

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lagoa
Christmas Tree, a floating megastructure standing 82 meters
tall over the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in Rio de Janeiro, has
become a holiday tradition for thousands of tourists visiting
the city from all over the world. Considered the largest
floating Christmas Tree in the world by the Guinness Book
of Records, the tree has been assembled for 10 straight
years, with $1.1 million in funds provided by Grupo Bradesco
Seguros e Previdencia. Since its opening on Nov. 26, the tree
has attracted 80,000 people a day to the area surrounding the
lagoon. The tree, the third most important tourist attraction
in Rio de Janeiro after Carnival and Reveillon (end-of-year
celebrations), will remain lit until January 6.
Close to 600,000 tourists, including 300,000 foreigners, are
expected in Rio de Janeiro to participate in Reveillon this year.



















The Christmas tree is supported by 11 floating steel
marine blocks, forming a 810 square meter base bearing
the tree's 450-ton weight. 2,228KVA of power are required
to light the tree. Candles, wheat stalks andChristmas tree
balls (traditionally used on Christmas dinner table
arrangements) adorns the tree. 2.8 million small lights and
35,000 meters of rope lights are also used. The Christmas
tree is 82 meters tall, the equivalent of a 27-story building,
and can be seen from anywhere around the Rodrigo de
Freitas Lagoon.



This year, the Christmas tree features water ballet.
Every day at 8 p.m., spectators will marvel at the
beauty of water in movement, with lighting and color
effects. Forty-eight pumps positioned around the tree
shoot jets of water 20 meters up into the air. On
weekends, the water shows are enhanced by music,
and are presented every half hour from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.