6. Christ the Redeemer
(Rio de Janeiro)
This 30-meter (98 feet) Brazil icon weighs 635 tons and was constructed between 1922 and 1931, although the concept for such a statue was first brought up in the 1850s.
However, in 1889 the country became a republic and, with the separation of church and state, the idea was dismissed.
In 1920 the Catholic Circle of Rio started collecting donations from Brazilian Catholics to fund the construction of the statue, commissioning local engineer Heitor da Silva Costa to design it.
It has lightning rods on the arms, head and hands -- on average, it's hit by lightning 12 times every summer.
Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
7. Cristo de la Concordia
(Cochabamba, Bolivia)
The Cristo de la Concordia is the second-largest statue of Jesus in the world and the third largest statue in the southern hemisphere.
At a height of 33 meters (one for every year of Christ's life), it's just a few centimeters higher than the Christ Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.
On Sundays, visitors can climb to the upper section of Cristo de la Concordia for breathtaking views from observation decks located inside the arms.
Av de la Concordia, Cochabamba, Bolivia
8. Sendai Daikannon
(Sendai, Japan)
This gleaming white statue located in Sendai, Japan, is the sixth tallest statue in the world and depicts a Japanese Bodhisattva, or enlightened being.
At 100-meters high (328 feet), she holds a wishing stone in her right hand and a water jug in the left.
An internal elevator allows visitors to access the higher sections.
Travel tip: The statue faces Sendai station, which is in the center area of the city, so if you ever get lost simply follow the statue's gaze to the center of town.
Sendai Daikannon, Sanezawa, Izumi-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
9. Wat Pho's reclining Buddha
(Bangkok)
Located just meters from Bangkok's Grand Palace in the Wat Pho temple complex, this reclining Buddha measures 15 meters (49 feet) high and 43 meters (141 feet) long.
The most ornate parts are the feet, which are inlaid with mother-of-pearl panels featuring symbols that represent the Buddha, including flowers, elephants and tigers.
Above the statue is a seven-tiered umbrella representing the state of Thailand and 108 bronze bowls are placed along its length.
Visitors are invited to make a wish as they place a coin in each of the bowls. All donations go towards maintenance of the Wat Pho temple.
Wat Pho, 2 Sanamchai Road, Grand Palace Subdistrict, Pranakorn District, Bangkok, Thailand
10. Buddha Dordenma
(Thimphu, Bhutan)
When completed, this gold and bronze sculpture will be one of the tallest Buddha statues in the world, with a height of 51 meters (169 feet).
Originally due for completion in 2010, it's now hoped that work will finish next year, by which time, $47 million will have been spent on construction.
China's Aerosun Corporation is covering this cost.
The interior will house 125,000 smaller Buddhas and a meditation hall.
Buddha Dordenma, Kuensel Phodrang, Thimphu, Bhutan
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