Christ Redeemer of the Andes

The Christ Redeemer of the Andes (Spanish Cristo Redentor of los the Andes ) is a monument located in the the Andes at 3.832 meters of altitude at the border between the Argentine and the Chile. It was inaugurated the March 13rd 1904 to celebrate the peaceful resolution of the frontier conflict putting at the catches the two countries.

The statue is located on the way of Cumbre , culminating point of the old road between Mendoza in Argentina and Santiago of Chile. The way is also known as being the Way of the Church ( Paso of Iglesia ) on the Chilean side and the Way Bermejo Argentinian side. The closest cities are Uspallata in Argentina and Juncal in Chile. The road goes up of more than 1000 meters on the 9km which separate Las Cuevas of the coll the road is accessible only during the summer months, when there is no snow, temperatures in winter which can reach the -30°C. Today, the road became a tourist road, borrowed by those which want to go to admire the statue, the main roads between the two countries passing from now on by the Tunnel of Christ Redeemer to the foot of the coast.

Construction

At the beginning of the XXe century, the Pape Leon XIII wrote a series of Encyclique S calling with peace and the harmony and the devotion towards the Christ Rédempteur. At the time, Argentina and Chile were about to clash in connection with a frontier conflict relating to the real position of their common border. The bishop of Cuyo, Monseigneur Marcelino LED Carmen Benavente, promised to set up a statue with Christ Redeemer to point out the message of peace contained in the lesson of Christ. The bronze statue, high, 7 meters was molten with Buenos Aires by the sculptor Mateo Alonso, and was exposed a time in the schoolyard Lacordaire, pertaining to the Dominicain S in Buenos Aires.

Whereas the war seemed increasingly inescapable between the two countries, Ángela Oliveira Cézar of Costa, an influential lady of the good company which led a group of Christians to the school, had the idea to take along the statue in the Andes and to set it up in symbol of peace between the two nations. It was particularly concerned by this conflict, her own brother being general in the Argentinian army. As a friend of the Argentinian President, Julio Roca, it could draw the attention in the two countries. It was named later to receive the Nobel Prize of peace, but did not obtain it.

In May 1902, after diplomatic talks Argentina and Chile arrived at an agreement. The place was selected stalemate Oliveira Cézar of Costa and the Benavente bishop, and one will préparèra oneself to move the statue until the Cumbre del Bermejo , that Jose de San Martín had borrowed, in 1817, to cross the Andes and to release Chile.

In 1904, Christ parcourru 1.200 km in the train, then hoisted with back of ass (the statue was dismounted in several pieces) up to 3882 meters of altitude. The February 15th 1904 pedestal of Granite 6 height meters, drawn by Molina Civit was completed and the sculptor of Alonso origin directed the installation of the bronze statue. It was set up looking at the border, upright on a sphere on which one can distinguish his left hand, South America holding the cross and his right hand blessing crowd.

Inauguration

The March 13rd 1904, 3.000 Chilean and Argentinian montère at the top in spite of the bad weather conditions and looked at the two armies, which can of time before were about to clash, drawing from the shot in the air. Argentinian President Roca and Chilean President Germán Riesco could not attend évênement but their respective Foreign Ministers were present on the spot as well as the archbishop of and the bishops of Cuyo (Argentina) and Ancud (Chile). Two plates celebrating the friendship between the two countries were affixed.

In 2004, the centenary of the statue was celebrated during a ceremony to which assisted Argentinian President Nestor Kirchner and Chilean President Ricardo Lagos. They benefitted from it to point out the friendship linking the two countries. The statue integrated the list of the Argentinian Historic buildings.

Even too

External bonds

Christ Redeemer of the Andes and her two versions
conmémoratif Act for the centenary of the inauguration

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