Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2006
Rio de Janeiro is famous for its spectacular natural setting, wild Carnival celebrations, samba and other music, hotel-lined tourist beaches, such as Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon, pavements decorated with black and cream swirl pattern mosaics, and the easy-going lifestyle of its inhabitants. Some of the most famous local landmarks besides the beaches are the giant statue of Jesus, known as Christ the Redeemer ('Cristo Redentor') atop Corcovado mountain; Sugar Loaf mountain with its cable car; the Sambódromo, a giant permanent parade stand used during Carnival; and Maracană stadium, one of the world's largest. Rio also boasts the world's largest forest inside an urban area, called Floresta da Tijuca, or 'Tijuca Forest'.
