The mountain is one of several monolitic hills of granite and quartz that rise from the water's edge around Rio. The name Sugar Loaf(Pao de Açucar in Portuguese) is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of concentrated refined sugar loaf. The tour is done in two steps by glass cable-cars. The first cable-car takes passengers to the top of Urca Hill, which rises 215 meters above sea level and offers spectacular views of the entire bay and islands. From Urca Hill, passengers continue in a second cable car to the top of Sugar Loaf which rises 396 meters above sea level and offers a 360 degree view of the entire city.