Mexico City - Independence Monument

(Local Name: Monumento a la Independencia) The next-but-one glorieta is dominated by the Independence Monument (Monumento a la Independencia), known as "El Angel" from the figure of a winged goddess of victory which stands on top of a tall column. This memorial, too, was a gift from the dictator Díaz on the occasion of the century of Mexican independence in 1910. At the foot of the 36 m (118 ft) column will be seen statues to the heroes of the movement for independence, such as Miguel Hidalgo, Guerrero and Morelos. Since 1998, on an occasional trial basis, the crypt with the skulls of the freedom heroes Hidalgo, Aldama, Allende and Jiménez has been opened to the public. The foundations of the column were made very deep to prevent it from sinking into the swampy subsoil. However, because the surrounding land sinks about 20 cm (8 in.) every year the monument "grows" in a most curious fashion, so that a new step has to be added to its base nearly every year.