It's been quite a month for the Olympic Torch Relay, 30 days that have taken this ancient symbol deep into the Brazilian countryside and along thousands of kilometres of some of the world's most spectacular coastline.

Another 20,000km will be covered and a further 8,000 torchbearers will carry the flame before it arrives in Rio de Janeiro, where it will light the Olympic cauldron in the Maracanã Stadium on 5 August.

1 month of the Olympic Torch Relay: a journey to remember

Here are seven facts you may not know about the torch and its epic adventure.

1. It's light

Very light, for which torchbearers are duly thankful. Weighing in at just 1.38kg, it is 64 centimetres long when closed and 69 centimetres when open.

It's also beautiful. Don't take our word for it  – Wired magazine included the torch in its 20 most cleverly designed objects of 2015.

Elegant, slim and alluring, the Torch is a real head-turner (Photo: Rio 2016/Andre Mourão)

2. It's sustainable

Sustainability is one of the key values of Rio 2016. Greenhouse gases from the relay are included in the overall plan for reducing, mitigating and offsetting emissions from the Games.

And the aluminium used to make the torch is entirely recycled.

Message of sustainability: the Torch practises what it preaches (Photo: Rio 2016/Fernando Soutello)

3. It's accessible to all

Who doesn't dream of carrying the Olympic Torch? Every Brazilian has had a chance to fulfil this dream. During a long selection programme, the Rio 2016 organising committee and official sponsors have painstakingly selected those people whose life stories they believe best reflect the values of the Olympic movement.

Olympic flame journeys across Brazil's diverse cultural landscape

Some real characters have got their hands on the torch in the last month (Photo: Rio 2016/André Mourão)

4. It's backed up by a team of hundreds

The torch may be the star, but behind the scenes a team of about 300 people is making the relay possible, comprising communications, security forces, sponsors, Rio 2016 officials and even a street sweeping lorry taking up the rear.

The view from the media car of the torch relay (Photo: Rio 2016.André Luiz Mello)

5. It's guarded by an elite squad

Wherever it goes, the torch is served by a select group of seven people known as the Guardians of the Torch. Members of this elite guard of honour advise torchbearers on how to handle the precious symbol and pass it on to the next person.

The Guardians are almost Olympic athletes in their own right. Spending all day jogging next to the torch, they certainly deserve some form of medal.

A Guardian stays close to the Torch (Photo: Rio 2016/ André Luiz Mello)

6. It's seen as much nature as David Attenborough

Well, maybe not quite so much. But in just one month the relay has taken the torch to three hugely different biomes: the cerrado (or savanna) in central Brazil, the Atlantic rainforest in the south east and the semi-desert regions of the northeastern backlands.

The breathtaking landscape of the Chapada Diamantina in Bahia (Photo: Rio 2016/André Luiz Mello)

7. It's slipped the surly bonds of earth

The torch has soared into the skies, surfed along the oceans and ridden along the backs of horses, oxen and donkeys.

From steam train to zipline, how the torch has travelled

It's been quite a ride so far. And the best may be yet to come, as we head towards Brazil's mighty Amazon for the next month of the Rio 2016 Olympic Torch Relay.

The torch caught some waves with big wave surfer Carlos Burle (Photo: Rio 2016/Marcos de Paula)