Thousands flocked to watch Rio de Janeiro's famous holiday tradition -
the inauguration of the huge floating Christmas tree. The crowd cheered
as the lights blazed and the fireworks emerged from the world's largest
floating Christmas tree, a gigantic metal structure as tall as a
27-story tower block. The Christmas tree, first erected in 1996,
constitutes Rio de Janeiro's third biggest tourist event after the
pre-lenten Carnival and New Year's Eve on Copacabana and other beaches.
This year's highlight were the pictures of Brazil's famous sites inside
the 27 Christmas balls that decorated the tree.
sweet