List of Roller Coaster Rankings

List Of Roller Coaster Rankings

Roller coasters are amusement rides developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. The first roller coasters were made out of wood and date back to the late 1800s. Although wooden roller coasters are still produced, steel roller coasters are more common, being located on every continent except Antarctica. The following list summarizes some of the roller coaster record holders for height, speed, length, inversions, and steepness, as well as the results of recent public polls. Some notable roller coasters include Formula Rossa which reaches a top speed of 149 miles per hour (240 km/h), Kingda Ka which stands at 456 feet (139 m) tall, Steel Dragon 2000 which measures 8,133 feet (2,479 m) in length, and Takabisha which has a beyond-vertical drop angle of 121°.

Amusement parks often compete to build the tallest, fastest, and longest rides to attract thrill seekers and boost overall park attendance. However, many records do not usually last long. Since 1973, the record for tallest roller coaster in the world has changed twelve times. When Magnum XL–200 opened in 1989, it ushered in a new era of roller coasters and increased competition among parks to set new world records. The Magnum XL–200 was the first complete-circuit roller coaster built over 200 feet (61 m).