I admit it, I’m a thrill ride junkie. I just can’t get enough of roller coasters, and I would love to ride all the most extreme ones. So what are the biggest and baddest coasters out there?
Some people just love thrill rides. They always want to go higher, drop farther, go faster, and so on — and they can never get enough. So for you adrenaline junkies out there who are looking for the ultimate thrill rides, check out this list of the tallest, fastest, and longest roller coasters in the world.
Record holders
Fastest
Located at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, the title of the world’s fastest coaster has belonged to Formula Rossa since it opened for business in November 2010.
Reaching an incredible 149mph, riders in Formula Rosso’s Ferrari F1-themed cars are required to wear safety glasses — but don’t worry, they’re provided.
Amazingly, the coaster reaches this incredible speed from a standstill in only 4.9 seconds, just like a Ferrari F1 car — check out a video here. After the launch, the coaster rolls up a 160ft hill, where it slows significantly, completing the rest of the run at a max speed of 65mph.
Tallest
Towering a stunning 456 feet over Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, Kingda Ka is the world’s tallest roller coaster, a title it has held since it opened in May 2005.
Upon launch, the coaster reaches 128mph in 3.5 seconds, then climbs the main top hat tower, reaching the 456-foot level at the peak before dropping back down. Unfortunately, Kingda Ka has a history of mechanical issues (understandable with a ride of this magnitude) and at the time of this writing (December 2011) the coaster was closed. It is unknown if it will be reopened in time for the 2012 season.
Tallest vertical loop
If getting upside down is your thing, check out the Superman: Krypton Coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio. This ride boasts the world’s tallest vertical loop, checking in at 145 feet. With a top speed of 70mph, it’s also one of the fastest floorless coasters in the world as well.
Steepest
Think a sheer, straight down drop is the best you can get? Think again. The brand new Green Lantern Coaster, scheduled to open in December 2011 at Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast of Australia actually drops away from vertical, at 122.4 degrees. Testing just began in November 2011, and it should be ready to go for 2012.
Longest
Checking in at a ridiculous 8,133ft long, Steel Dragon 2000 in Japan’s Nagashima Spa Land amusement park is the world’s longest roller coaster, a title it has held since August 2000. Peaking at 318 feet, it is also the tallest coaster in the world to use a traditional chain lift. Your ride starts out on the largest lift hill, then winds its way around the rest of the insane 1.54mi length.
King coasters
Some people just love thrill rides. They always want to go higher, drop farther, go faster, and so on — and they can never get enough. So for you adrenaline junkies out there who are looking for the ultimate thrill rides, check out this list of the tallest, fastest, and longest roller coasters in the world.
Record holders
Fastest
Reaching an incredible 149mph, riders in Formula Rosso’s Ferrari F1-themed cars are required to wear safety glasses — but don’t worry, they’re provided.
Amazingly, the coaster reaches this incredible speed from a standstill in only 4.9 seconds, just like a Ferrari F1 car — check out a video here. After the launch, the coaster rolls up a 160ft hill, where it slows significantly, completing the rest of the run at a max speed of 65mph.
Tallest
Towering a stunning 456 feet over Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, Kingda Ka is the world’s tallest roller coaster, a title it has held since it opened in May 2005.
Upon launch, the coaster reaches 128mph in 3.5 seconds, then climbs the main top hat tower, reaching the 456-foot level at the peak before dropping back down. Unfortunately, Kingda Ka has a history of mechanical issues (understandable with a ride of this magnitude) and at the time of this writing (December 2011) the coaster was closed. It is unknown if it will be reopened in time for the 2012 season.
Tallest vertical loop
If getting upside down is your thing, check out the Superman: Krypton Coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio. This ride boasts the world’s tallest vertical loop, checking in at 145 feet. With a top speed of 70mph, it’s also one of the fastest floorless coasters in the world as well.
Steepest
Think a sheer, straight down drop is the best you can get? Think again. The brand new Green Lantern Coaster, scheduled to open in December 2011 at Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast of Australia actually drops away from vertical, at 122.4 degrees. Testing just began in November 2011, and it should be ready to go for 2012.
Longest
Checking in at a ridiculous 8,133ft long, Steel Dragon 2000 in Japan’s Nagashima Spa Land amusement park is the world’s longest roller coaster, a title it has held since August 2000. Peaking at 318 feet, it is also the tallest coaster in the world to use a traditional chain lift. Your ride starts out on the largest lift hill, then winds its way around the rest of the insane 1.54mi length.
All of these are current as of December, 2011.
Kingda Ka photo by Dusso Janladde
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