On Coney Island -- a spit of Brooklyn beachfront -- the first American roller coasters were created in the late 1880s. One of the pioneer coasters, the Flip-Flap Railway, had the unfortunate problem of snapping riders' necks due to the extreme g-forces experienced when accelerating through its circular loop. Engineering innovations and steel construction have made coasters safer, and now the sky's the limit. Here are some of today's biggest thrillers.
1. The Matterhorn Bobsleds
While not necessarily the tallest, fastest, or scariest ride in the world, the Matterhorn deserves a nod as the grandfather of modern coasters. Still thrilling riders at Disneyland, this ride was the world's first major steel coaster when it opened in 1959. Inspired by the Matterhorn, a 14,692-foot mountain in the Swiss Alps, the structure is made up of two linking steel roller coasters with loops and corkscrews. Top speed is 18 miles per hour.
 © Tim Larsen/Associated Press The Kingda Ka is the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster. |
2. Kingda Ka
Kingda Ka, at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, is the ultimate ride on several fronts. As of 2007, it was the tallest and fastest roller coaster on the planet. Reaching 128 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds, the train rockets straight up to the 456-foot apex. Crossing over the pinnacle, the train plummets straight down into a vertical, hair-raising descent through a spiral twist at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. Riders then face a 129-foot tall hill that bounces them out of their seats for a few seconds.
On the next page, you'll find more of our list including Apollo's Chariot and Son of Beast.
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