Sugar Loaf Mountain

Near Abergavenny in South Wales there is a mountain called the Sugar Loaf (illustrated above).  It is widely believed that it got its name because it looks like a pile of sugar.

However, before the twentieth century, refined sugar was sold in a heaped concial shape called a sugarloaf.  Many mountains around the world now bear this name, due to their similarity with this moulded shape of sugar.  Probably one of the most famous is the Sugar Loaf mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, an imposing landmark and popular tourist attraction. (see right)  Since 1912, tourists can ride a cable car to the top, as seen in the James Bond film Moonraker.

The mountain in Rio de Janeiro has had several names, depneding on who was in control of the territory at the time.  Oringally, it was called Pau-nh-Acqua, then the French colonists name it Pot de Beurre, the Portunguese invaders, Pao de Assucar (Bread of Sugar), the French re-invaders Pot de Sucre.  By the seventeenth century, it became Pao de Acucar when the Portuguese returned and thus it has stayed.  The Sugar Loaf mountain is named because sugar cane was a primary export of the region.

It is interesting to compare the two mountains.  Neither resemble the other, yet both are called the Sugar Loaf.  I wonder how many others have the same name, and whether they are similar to the conical shape, like in Rio de Janeiro, or more hke the pile of sugar shaped mountain in Abergavenny.  This latter is now owned by the National Trust, and rising to 596m (1955ft) above sea level, is a favourite destination for walkers.

Sources:
Facts and History of Sugar Loaf, Pao de Acucar (not known) [online], Copacabana.info.  Available from: http://www.copacabana.info/history-of-sugar-loaf.html (Accessed 23rd May 2011).
Rapado, Keith (2002, rev. 2009) The Sugar Loaf, [online], Brecon Beacons National Park.  Available from: http://www.brecon-beacons.com/The-Sugar-Loaf.htm (Accessed 23rd May 2011).
Images:
Pao de Acucar or Sugar Loaf (2009) [online], http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.travelstripe.com/images/rio-de-janeiro-sugar-loaf1.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.travelstripe.com/sugar-loaf-rio-de-janeiro/&usg=__NPlZOKLzwyXssDCR3GFfKyVBAKY=&h=2304&w=3072&sz=3138&hl=en&start=14&zoom=1&itbs=1&tbnid=rkkTVCko86FmlM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsugarloaf%2Brio%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1003%26bih%3D619%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&ei=NrzaTbGsCNKBhQe0l9XMBg (Accessed 23rd May 2011).
The Sugar Loaf Mountain (no date) Philip Veale, [online], http://www3.clikpic.com/philipveale/images/Mis009.jpg (Accessed 23rd May 2011).



Juliana