Sugarloaf

Sugarloaf is a common name for hills or mountains that have a conical shape resembling a traditional sugarloaf, a lump of refined sugar historically used in Europe. The name is applied to various geographic features around the world, and many serve as local landmarks or hiking destinations. The most famous Sugarloaf is Pão de Açúcar, a granite peak in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Located at the mouth of Guanabara Bay, it rises about 396 meters above sea level and is linked to the nearby Morro da Urca by a cable car, offering panoramic city views. The formation has long been a symbol of Rio and a major tourist attraction, contributing to the city’s skyline and identity.

Outside Brazil, the term is used for other hills named Sugarloaf in the United Kingdom, including a well-known hill in Wales that is a popular hiking destination. In North America, several smaller hills and geographic features bear the name, a reflection of the common inclination to name conical hills after the sugarloaf shape. In addition to natural formations, the term sugarloaf is sometimes used in place names, local businesses, and cultural references.