NPR

Puerto Rico's Christopher Columbus Statue Survives Hurricane Maria

Residents of Arecibo love the 350-foot tall statue, which they hope will bring tourists to the region. But they aren't fond of the conquistador who people say discovered the island and America.
The Birth of the New World statue photographed in August depicts the image of Christopher Columbus standing over Arecibo. Over the years, Puerto Rico has wooed visitors and investors with beaches, sun, tax breaks and splashy public works.

Puerto Ricans say it's taller than the Statue of Liberty and the largest homage to Christopher Columbus in the world. It's a towering 350-foot tall statue of the explorer and it's perched on the island's waterfront. While the statue survived Hurricane Maria which hit Puerto Rico more than two

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