Sugarloaf Mountain
Sugarloaf Mountain (in Portuguese, Pão de Açúcar), is a peak situated in Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil, from the mouth of Guanabara Bay on a peninsula that sticks
out into the Atlantic Ocean. Rising 396 metres (1,299 ft) above sea-level, its
name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of
concentrated refined loaf sugar. However, it is believed by some that the name
actually derives from Pau-nh-acuqua (“high hill”) in the Tupi-Guarani language,
as used by the indigenous Tamoios.
Sugarloaf (background right) and Botafogo Beach.The mountain is only one of
several monolithic morros of granite and quartz that rise straight from the
water's edge around Rio de Janeiro. A glass-paneled cable car (in popular
Portuguese, bondinho - more properly called teleférico), capable of holding 75
passengers, runs along a 1400-metre route between the peaks of Pão de Açúcar and
Cara de Cão every half hour. The original cable car line was built in 1912. So
familiar is this peak, the mere sight of it in a film is sufficient to establish
the setting as Rio de Janeiro. The cable car goes from the base, not the peak of
the Babilônia mountain, to the Urca mountain and then to the Pão de Açúcar
mountain.
Rock climbing
Visitors can watch rock climbers on Sugarloaf and the other two
mountains in the area: Morro da Babilônia (Babylon Mountain),
and Morro da Urca (Urca's Mountain). Together, they foArm one of
the largest urban climbing areas in the world, with more than
270 routes, between 1 and 10 pitched long. Some classic routes
in Sugarloaf are:
- Italianos, 5.10a, 2 pitches. Beautiful and well
protected face climbing. Can be connected to other routes,
in a total of 6 pitches to the top.
- Stop Chimney, 5.6, 7 pitches. Classic runout but easy
chimney.
- Lagartão, 5.11c, 7 pitches. First two pitches are
traditional climbing, the rest is bolted.
- Ibis, 5.10d A1, 10 pitches. Runout and committed. Some
parties climb it in one day, sleeping on one of the ledges
in the first half of the route.
