Sugarloaf Mountain

I love the warm sun on my rocky head. I watch the sparkly blue water splash on the sand all day long. My head is smooth and round, like a big scoop of yummy ice cream. I am so big and tall. Long ago, people thought I looked just like a loaf of sweet sugar they used for cooking. That is why they call me Sugarloaf Mountain. In my home, the beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro, my name is Pão de Açúcar. Isn't that a sweet name for a big, happy mountain like me.

I have been here for a very, very long time, watching the world change. For many years, nobody could come up to visit my top. It was too high and too steep to climb, and I felt a little lonely way up here. But then, a very clever man named Augusto Ferreira Ramos had a wonderful idea. He wanted to help people fly up to see me. In the year 1912, he built a special flying box just for me. On October 27th, 1912, the first little box flew through the air, all the way to my top. It was like magic. People cheered as they floated up, up, up into the sky. I was so excited to have visitors.

Now, many flying boxes go up and down all day long. I love to hear the happy sounds of children laughing as they ride up to see me. They come from all over the world to say hello. From my top, you can see the whole city of Rio de Janeiro. You can see the sandy beaches and the big, blue ocean. It is the best view in the world. I am so happy to share my beautiful view with you. I love making happy memories with every friend who comes to visit me in my flying box.