According to the Guinness Book of Records, the Bradesco Seguros Christmas Tree, is the largest floating Christmas tree in the world.

It has been adorning the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon since 1996. It is a picture perfect site in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is now on display for its 15th straight year.

With this year's theme A Story of Reunions, the Christmas Tree is one of the three largest events in Rio de Janeiro, together with Carnival and New Year's Eve.

The Tree was inaugurated on Saturday, during a spectacular event open to the public and attended by world class Brazilian singers including Milton Nascimento, Simone and Ivan Lins. Starting yesterday and running through Epiphany on January 6, the largest floating Christmas tree in the world will be lit up daily at 7.30 p.m.

The tree has a total of 15 sequential patterns of lights and colours illuminated by 105 kilometres of lighted strands, 3.3 million miniature bulbs and 2,100 strobes that simulate twinkling stars. The overall effect is reproduced on a structure 85 metres tall, or approximately the same height as a 28-story building.

"The tree reaching its 15th year is good reason to be proud. It is a monument, now part of Brazilians' Christmas and an international benchmark that conveys peace, harmony and happiness," said Enrique Adan, marketing director for Grupo Bradesco Seguros.

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