The world’s largest roller coaster is a subject of debate among enthusiasts and experts, with criteria such as height and track length determining the title. Kingda Ka and Steel Dragon 2000 are contenders for the title, while The Beast and Son of Beast hold records for wooden coasters. New technology may end the reign of these giants, but the thrills they bring will continue to excite visitors.
The largest roller coaster in the world is the subject of debate among enthusiasts and experts. Determining which coaster is the largest depends on criteria, such as the height or length of the ride’s track. While the title of the world’s largest roller coaster is indeterminate, several deserving roller coasters deserve credit for their extraordinary size.
In every conversation on the world’s largest roller coaster, Kingda Ka is quickly brought up. Built in 2005 at Six Flags Great Adventures Park in New Jersey, this ride broke the records for the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. At its highest point, Kindga Ka reaches 456 feet (139 m) in the air, surpassing its closest competitor by 36 feet (9 m). It also features the tallest drop, a 418-foot (127m) stomach-churning. By all accounts, Kingda Ka is a monster in the mountains.
In terms of track length, the heaviest course weight is worldwide from Kingda Ka, to Japan’s Nagashima Spa Land amusement park. Steel Dragon 2000 lurks in this theme park, which opened in 2000 and boasts the longest roller coaster track in the world at 8133 feet (2479m). Impressive in the fast-paced field of roller coaster technology, Steel Dragon 2000 has defended its title for nearly a decade, making it a clear contender for the title of largest roller coaster.
Both Kingda Ka and Steel Dragon 2000 are steel coasters, capable of becoming much larger than traditional wooden coasters. Yet fans of the wooden roller coaster won’t be put off, and the records for the tallest and longest wooden track still stand. As of 2008, the longest wooden coaster in the world is The Beast at Paramount’s Kings Island in Ohio which spans 7400 feet (2255.5 m) and has held the title of longest wooden coaster since 1979. The coaster in tallest timber in the world, Son of Beast , is located in the same park, rising to a staggering 218m above the ground.
The world of roller coaster records is fickle, and new technology could end the reign of at least one of these giants. Set to open in 2009, a German coaster called the Ring Racer will break Kingda Ka’s long-held speed record and could threaten other records as well. With all the competition, the world’s largest roller coaster may never truly be determined, but the thrills brought by the competitors are sure to have visitors screaming for years to come.
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