Largest Floating Christmas Tree-Rio de Janeiro sets
world record
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Thousands of people turned
out in Rio de Janeiro for the lighting of the 85-meter (278-foot)
floating
Christmas tree, adorned with 2.9 million lights and 1,600
Christmas ornaments, which required 52 kilometers (32 miles)
of cables to light-setting the world record for the Largest
Floating Christmas Tree.
The Largest
Floating Christmas Tree stands 28 stories tall and
sparkles with a light show containing 11 sequential patterns
of 2.9 million mini bulbs, more than 82 miles of lights and
1,600 strobe lights.
In order to help reduce CO2 emissions, it is
powered by 7 biodiesel generators. The massive tree is constructed
out of 530 tons of steel sitting on 11 pontoons.
A 40-member youth choir and the 56-member
Barra Mansa symphonic band provided the background music for
Saturday’s lighting ceremony.
A concert, featuring master of ceremonies
Jose Mayer and singer Simone, officially inaugurated the Christmas
celebrations Saturday in the city, which will conclude the
holiday season with a big party on New Year’s Eve.
The host city for the 2016 Olympic
Games will offer a huge concert and fireworks on Dec. 31,
with residents and visitors ringing in 2010 on Copacabana,
Ipanema, Botafogo and Leblon beaches. Related world records: