A floating Christmas tree was inaugurated Sunday in Rio de Janeiro’s Botafogo Cove, adding a new highlight to the city’s holiday traditions.

The structure, which rises 80 meters high, features more than 2.3 million LED lights and is installed about 100 meters from the shoreline, allowing it to be seen along roughly 700 meters of Botafogo Beach.

Set against the dramatic backdrop of Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer, the installation is expected to become a new seasonal landmark in one of Rio’s most visited waterfront areas.

The inauguration included a fireworks display and drew large crowds.

Mariana Guimarães, a tourism specialist, described the inauguration as "magical" and Marcos Reguete, a content creator, said it was "sensational."