When George W. Ferris built the first Ferris wheel in the world for the World Colombian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, he launched the process of popularizing such an unusual and interesting attraction. The height of the novelty was 75 meters, and two steam engines were responsible for its rotation.
This Ferris wheel was completely disassembled in 1904, but over the years thousands of such attractions have been installed in different countries of the world.
Ferris wheels come in many sizes and can be found in many places, including amusement parks and tourist attractions. Below is top 10 highest ferris wheels in the world. Data on where the largest Ferris wheel is located is relevant for 2018.
10. Tempozan - 112.5 meters
The Japanese Ferris Wheel, built in 1997 and installed near the Tempozan Market shopping center in Osaka, opens the rating.
This building is decorated with illumination, which notifies about the weather for the coming days. Orange lights mean that the day will be sunny, green lights - a sign that there are a lot of clouds in the sky, and if the blue light comes on, it means it will rain.
9. Cosmo 21 watch - 112.5 meters
This ferris wheel, built in 1989 in the Japanese city of Yokohama, has long lost its title of the highest attraction on Earth, but still remains the world's largest watch. The number "21" in the name means "21 century".
The current time is displayed on a huge display located in the center of the wheel. The ride is 15 minutes.
The wheel can carry 480 people in 60 booths, with each booth accommodating up to eight passengers. On a clear day, you can see the skyscrapers of Shinjuku, the Boso Peninsula and even Mount Fuji from the wheel.
8. Melbourne star and 5 other attractions - 120 meters
The spokes of this massive Ferris wheel form a seven-pointed star, as a tribute to the Australian flag. Riding the Star of Melbourne will provide you with a 30-minute view of the Docklands and nearby areas of the city, such as Port Phillip and the Central Business District.
There are several other ferris wheels 120 meters high:
- "Fukuoka's Heavenly Dream" - this "skyscraper" opened in 2002 in Fukuoka, Japan.
- Zhengzhou ferris wheel, opened in 2003 in an amusement park in Henan, China.
- Changsha Ferris Wheel, opened in 2004 in Changsha, China.
- Tianjin Eye - The attraction opened in 2008 in Tianjin, China.
- Suzhou Ferris Wheel, opened in 2009 in the city of Suzhou, China.
7. Eye of Orlando - 122 meters
The highest attraction on the East Coast was opened in 2015. It provides breathtaking views of the city’s theme parks, including the nearby Orlando Sea World and Universal Orlando.
One wheel revolution takes 23 minutes. Before boarding the booth, visitors will definitely be shown a mini-film about building a wheel. And upon exiting the wheel, riders are offered a can of Coca-Cola for free.
6. Red horse - 123 meters
Ferris Wheel - Japan's tallest Ferris wheel was opened in 2016. It rises to a height comparable to the height of a 40-story residential building. For comparison: the highest point of the highest ferris wheel in Russia is 83 meters (or 28 floors).
All 72 passenger cabins have transparent (and very durable) floors. And in 18 minutes, while the wheel makes a full revolution, its visitors can admire the impressive views of the city from the side windows and from below, if, of course, they dare to look under their feet.
5. London Eye - 135 meters
Opens the first five of the highest attractions in 2018, one of the most recognizable sights of England.
The highest attraction in Europe was built in 2000 and was originally called the Millennium Wheel. Each of its 32 capsules can carry 25 passengers, and the entire trip takes about 30 minutes.
More people visit the London Eye each year than the Taj Mahal or the Great Pyramids of Giza.
4. Nanchang Star - 160 meters
One of the tallest wheels in the world is only 5 meters inferior to its Singapore rival. But it opened earlier, in 2006.
Each of the 60 cabins equipped with climate control can accommodate up to 8 passengers. The attraction is equipped with very beautiful lighting, so in the evening it delights visitors with fantastic illumination.
A ticket to the "Nanchang Star" will cost only 6 yuan (about 60 rubles). The wheel works around the clock.
3. “Soaring Singapore” - 165 meters
The huge Ferris Wheel, opened in 2008 on the shores of the Singapore Bay, provides stunning views of nearby Malaysia and Indonesia. Each of the 28 capsules has the size of a minibus and accommodates 28 passengers. One wheel revolution takes half an hour. And to make the trip more fun, you can order champagne and lunch for two in the booth.
2. High Roller - 168 meters
The attraction, located in the shopping and entertainment district of Linq in the famous Las Vegas, opened in 2014. Each air-conditioned glass cabin can hold up to 40 passengers. Since it’s Vegas, drinks are sold right at the bottom of the wheel and you can take food into the cab. However, there are no slot machines in the capsules, or at least not yet.
Night tickets for High Roller are more expensive than day tickets, and this is understandable: because at night Las Vegas is flooded with lights and looks much more beautiful.
1. New York Ferris Wheel - 191 meters
The largest ferris wheel in the world is located on the shores of Staten Island. It offers incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean, the port of New York and, of course, Manhattan. The construction of the giant cost $ 230 million (of which $ 7 million was spent on a set of lighting) and 1,440 passengers can ride a wheel in one trip. The trip will last about 38 minutes.
When creating the highest Ferris wheel, American designers were inspired by the London project, but set themselves the task of catching up and overtaking the British. While the London Wheel is equipped with 32 capsules, each of which can accommodate 25 people, the New York Wheel has 36 capsules with a capacity of up to 40 passengers each. Well, the height of the American "Ferris wheel" is much greater. However, already in 2018, it may concede the title of “highest ferris wheel in the world” to the new attraction king.
Preparing to open: Dubai Eye - 210 meters
The United Arab Emirates already has the tallest building in the world. Dubai will soon also have the world's tallest Ferris wheel. The exact opening date is still unknown, but construction has already begun, and the Dubai Eye may begin to rotate this year.
The attraction will be located on an artificial island, which also provides for hotel and entertainment areas, a market and a quarter with buildings of various floors. The construction of the island with all the infrastructure will cost 1.6 billion dollars, and the ferris wheel itself will take 272 million dollars. But what is money if you need to prove to the whole world that in the UAE everything is the biggest?
