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Private Project Wants To Raise Monumental Replica With A View Of Christ The Protector, Housing Flood Museum, Restaurants, And Winery, And Integrating A Pilgrimage Route In RS.
Roca Sales (RS), one of the cities hardest hit by the floods of 2023 and 2024 in the Vale do Taquari, is coordinating the construction of a replica of Noah’s Ark with dimensions inspired by the biblical account. The proposal comes from the Association of Friends Reconstructing Roca Sales (AARRS) and aims to position the municipality as a new hub for religious tourism in Southern Brazil.
According to the creators, the project will be 100% privately funded, with institutional support from the local government, without the direct use of budgetary funds. AARRS registered the brand “Noah’s Ark” as a tourist and religious route and is conducting technical negotiations to bring the project to life.
The plan includes a 2024 flood museum, as well as a café, restaurants, and even a winery within the complex. The estimated opening to the public is by 2030, subject to licensing and attracting investors in phases.
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The final location is still under study, but the premise is clear: to build the structure at a high point, with a privileged view of Christ The Protector of Encantado, a monumental statue of 43.5 meters that has become a reference for gaucho religious tourism.
What Will The Noah’s Ark Of Roca Sales Look Like
AARRS describes an ark made of concrete, with external cladding that mimics wood and interiors in wood, combining structural solidity with thematic aesthetics. The technical design is being developed with architect Jonas Haefliger, who is responsible for the initial conceptual stages.
The dimensions will closely follow the biblical specifications: approximately 120 m long, 22.5 m wide, and 13.5 m high. The scale allows for internal circulation of visitors, with exhibition spaces and communal areas.
Two areas are being analyzed for implementation, including the Pôr do Sol neighborhood and Morro do Paraglider, both with a view of the Taquari River and Christ The Protector. The decision depends on studies of accessibility, impact, and licensing.
The estimated timeframe for execution is four to five years in phases. The opening “by 2030” is conditioned on the definition of the land, executive projects, and construction schedule. Phase planning will guide private fundraising.
Floods In The Vale Do Taquari: The Context That Motivated The Project
In 2024, the floods in Rio Grande do Sul left Roca Sales among the cities with the most victims. Federal government documents and journalistic reports indicate at least 14 deaths in the municipality during that event, while the state recorded over 180 deaths.
The Vale do Taquari had already recorded 54 deaths in the floods of September 2023, according to the state Civil Defense. Many families are still dealing with displacement and reconstruction of homes and businesses.
Roca Sales has approximately 10,400 inhabitants, according to the 2022 census by IBGE. Proportionally, the social and economic impacts of the floods were severe, which helps explain the symbolic and economic appeal of the initiative.
Local entrepreneurs and leaders see the ark as a landmark of memory and resilience, capable of attracting visitors, generating income, and diversifying the economy beyond immediate reconstruction.
Connection With Christ The Protector And The Route Of Religious Tourism
The Christ The Protector of Encantado stands 43.5 m tall and is part of a tourist complex with a chapel and viewpoints. The monument, officially inaugurated in 2025, has established Encantado as a site for pilgrimage and leisure, serving as an inspirational model for Roca Sales.
The city hall of Roca Sales is planning a pilgrimage route that connects Farroupilha, Coronel Pilar, Roca Sales, Encantado, and Muçum, expanding the offering of religious tourism in interior RS. The ark would be a new anchor in this circuit.
In Muçum, the plan for the Rosary of Protection is progressing, a monumental rosary of about 800 meters and 59 chapels, also with private investment and devotional vocation, reinforcing the regional synergy.
For the strategy to work, experts point out the need for integrated signage, services, and an events calendar, avoiding seasonality and dispersal of flows. In this design, the ark would be a flagship attraction and narrative hub.
Who Is In Charge Of The Project And How Will It Be Financed
AARRS was established on June 17, 2024 by residents and entrepreneurs focused on urban and economic reconstruction. The entity claims to have no party affiliation and maintains transparency in its actions and fundraising.
The registration of the brand “Noah’s Ark” as a tourist and religious route has been formalized, opening the way for partnerships with operators, commercial routes, and integration into regional calendars. Private resources will fund the construction.
The architect Jonas Haefliger leads the initial stage of studies and feasibility, in dialogue with investors and the city hall. He emphasizes that this is a long-term project, requiring technical planning and local consensus.
The city hall expresses institutional support, understanding that the ark can attract investments and consolidate the Vale do Taquari as a pilgrimage destination following the climate tragedy.
Share Your Opinion: Is the “Noah’s Ark” of Roca Sales an icon of faith and memory capable of accelerating the economic recovery, or a misplaced priority in the face of so many urgent reconstruction needs? Comment with your arguments.
É uma excelente idéia uma vez que a região já conta com essa tendência e a tragédia sofrida trouxe essa necessidade de unir forças e os animais foram um capítulo à parte