the statue of christ the redeemer, rio's most famous landmark, stands on the corcovado hill, located at the edge of the tijuca forest. this forest is one of the most sought after tourism spots in rio, with more than two million visitants per year. it is also a prime example of human's influence over the  environment, in both negative and positive ways. 

in early colonial times, much of the forest was destroyed in order to make way for the cultivation of crops, mainly of sugar and coffee, which constituted a vital part of the local economy.