Roller coasters are everywhere these days,
from the local county fair to the largest of the theme parks.
And almost everyone has been on one at some point.
The evolution of the coaster over time is nothing short of amazing
as each new one seems to offer something higher, faster, and more breath-taking.
I'm Reacher...and with that in mind, we're bringing you
25 of the most thrilling and heart-pounding roller coasters in the world.
Number Six
Dominating over all other roller coasters in the height category is no small feat considering
the fast-paced, ever-changing advancements in design. But since opening in 2005 at Six
Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, Kingda Ka, a 456-foot high Stratacoaster,
has held the world record 14 years running.
It's no small feat to get to the top either so be prepared for the launcher which will
have you going from 0 to 128 miles per hour...in just 3.5 seconds...90-degrees straight up.
Coming back down is just as tough as riders are plunged into a 270-degree spiral that
leads into a 129-foot camel hill as it finishes out the 3,118-foot track.
The ride may be short at just 51 seconds but it'll
leave your stomach churning for much, much longer.
Number Five
Located just north of Salt Lake City, Utah
is the city of Farmington, the home of Lagoon Amusement Park and Cannibal, which currently
holds the world record for the highest beyond-vertical drop on a roller coaster.
Having made its premiere in 2015, it begins
with a 208-foot climb through an enclosed tower.
Upon exiting, riders instantly plunge into a 116-degree beyond-vertical free-fall
reaching up to 70 miles per hour.
Structured around the tower and a large waterfall, the 2,735-foot long track includes an underground
tunnel, a 140-foot tall loop, and anywhere from three to five inversions depending on
who you talk to.
The whole thing lasts about 2 1/2 minutes, subjecting the rider to G-forces in the 4.2
range at times. Considering that the average Space Shuttle launch only put about 3 G's
on the astronauts, I'd put this one on your to-do list.
Number Four
Another of the dive coasters, the Yukon Striker at Canada's Wonderland in Ontario has the
distinction of being the current world record holder as the fastest and longest of its kind
as well as sharing the record for the tallest with Valravn.
Other records include the longest
drop and the most inversions for this type.
This floorless coaster only recently opened to the public in May of 2019, towering 223
feet over the park's skyline.
The ride itself is a journey lasting just under 3 1/2 minutes
and traversing 3,625 feet of track.
The first thing that will take your breath is the 245-foot, 90-degree drop through the
structure of another coaster and into an underwater tunnel.
Reaching a speed of 80 miles per hour,
the train exits the tunnel and enters into the world's largest Immelmann loop which rises
148 feet above ground level.
After this is a zero-g roll followed by a complete 360-degree loop, which currently
stands as the only one of its kind for a dive coaster.
The train then takes another drop
into an airtime hill before shooting through a 360-degree helix and ending at the final
brake run.
Number Three
Japan has no shortage of must-ride roller coasters, and Steel Dragon 2000 in Nagashima
Spa Land is one that easily makes any list.
Since it opened in August of 2000, it has
held the world record for the longest roller coaster at just over 8,133 feet, beating out
its nearest rival by roughly 691 feet.
Coming out of the station the train rises to the top of the 318-foot lift hill before
dropping 306 feet.
Reaching 95 miles per hour, the train then ascends a 252-foot camelback
hill that leads into a rising figure-eight helix.
Although I haven't discussed the expense of building these coasters, it should be noted
that this one cost around $52 million, running second only to Expedition Everest at Walt
Disney World Florida. After this is a series of six more camelback hills along with two
tunnels to finish out the four-minute ride.
Number Two
If I told you that a coaster was themed after a high-end, luxury sports car, you'd expect
it to be the best of the best, right? Well, you won't be disappointed then because the
Formula Rossa at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi is precisely what you'd expect! The designers
even took the extra step of drawing inspiration
for the shape from a legendary Italian racetrack.
The 1 1/2 minute ride starts with a hydraulic launch system blasting the train out of the
station, reaching its top speed of 149 miles per hour in just 4.9 seconds while hitting
the riders with up to 1.7 Gs.
Throughout the 1 1/4 mile long track this can increase to 4.8 Gs while reaching heights
up to 171 feet, which should be expected considering this currently is and has been the record
holder for the fastest roller coaster in the world since it opened in 2010.
As a side note, riders have to wear safety glasses due to the risk of impact with airborne
particulates and insects. Because really, who wants a bug in the eye at that speed?
Number one.
Setting a new standard in an industry that is this ever-changing is no small feat. So,
when Sandusky, Ohio's Cedar Point built Millennium Force, it broke several existing world records
and brought about an all-new classification of roller coaster. Thus, the Gigacoaster was
born.
Standing 310 feet tall at its highest point, the 6,595-foot long track roughly covers a
13-acre spread. This giant among giants starts with a 300-foot drop that quickly reaches
a top speed of 93 miles per hour.
By the end of the two-minute ride, you've gone
through two tunnels, around three overbanked
turns, and over four hills as well as hopped back and forth over a lagoon to a small island.
Having been surpassed by others as a record holder, it still has the bragging rights of
being the first of its kind. Additionally, since it was built in May of
2000, it has ranked in the top two among steel coasters worldwide in the Golden Ticket awards,
holding the top spot for ten of those years.
So, there you have it, the most extensive list we've done to date. And maybe the one
we had the most fun on as well. Speaking of fun, almost everyone has ridden a coaster
at some point. Were any of them on this list? If so, let
us know about your ride in the comments.
And I'm sure it goes without saying that you can clue us in on anything you think should've
made the list.
I'm Reacher...and we'll see you on the next one.