Extreme rides 2014

Extreme Rides 2014

SCREAM

Heide Park

Soltau, Germany

Halfway along the Hamburg-Hannover Autobahn you'll find the world's tallest drop tower, Scream. With a height of 103 metres to the pinnacle, try to look out over the flowerbeds and trees before you plummet to the ground in 2.4 seconds

COLOSSUS
Thorpe Park
Chertsey, Surrey, UK

Built in 2002, this British roller coaster contains ten inversions in one ride, which is a world record. Some of the turns are known as the double corkscrew, the heart-line roll and the cobra roll.

TOWER OF TERROR II
Dreamworld
Gold Coast, Australia

Re-done in September 2010 to make it faster and scarier, the Tower of Terror II is a steel shuttle roller coaster. Riders are launched along a 206 metre tunnel, hitting 160.9 km/h in 7 seconds, before dangling at the top for a little while and plummeting face first back to the ground.

INSANITY
Stratosphere Hotel and Casino
Las Vegas, USA

Reaching out 20 metres over Las Vegas's famous Strip is the ride known as Insanity - possibly because you have to be insane to go on it. At the top of the Stratosphere tower with a 275 metre drop below, this ride angles you at 70 degrees and spins you round

HARRY POTTER AND THE FORBIDDEN JOURNEY
Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando
Orlando, Florida, USA

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the seventh island on Universal's Islands of Adventure, and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is the ride that makes the cut - it epitomises all the storytelling and technology-based work Universal have been developing over the last few decades. The ride utilises KUKA robocoaster technology, which allows the seats to pivot while being held above the track by a robotic arm, while you experience all the frights and delights of the wizarding world thanks to 3D effects.

TORNADO
Wet 'n' Wild
Gold Coast, Australia

The Tornado ride blasts you down a 40 metre long tunnel into the middle of a tornado-like storm, made all the more terrifying because it's all conducted in water. But never fear, you won't be alone - the ride takes 4 people at a time on nothing more than a glorified floaty




PEPSI MAX BIG ONE
Pleasure Beach
Blackpool England

Pleasure Beach's biggest, fastest, scariest roller coaster also happens to be one of Europe's tallest. Standing at 72 metres, the ride lasts for three long, stomach churning minutes.




X2
Magic Mountain Adventure Park
Valencia, California, USA

America's X2 roller coaster differs from others because, thanks to a special rack and pinion wheel, the seats have the ability to rotate 360 degrees mid-ride. You'll find yourself head first, face down, looking at the drop beneath you right when you least expect it.




STEEL DRAGON 2000
Nagashima Spa Land Amusement Park
Nagashima, Japan

The Steel Dragon 2000 in Nagashima, Japan, is the world's longest rollercoaster at 2500 meters, with three hills and two tunnels along the way. It also reaches speeds of over 150 kilometres per hour.





TONNERRE DE ZEUS
Parc Asterix
Paris, France

Paris is home to the longest wooden roller coaster in Europe, which is also known as the Thunder of Zeuss. Located in the popular Asterix Park (based on the comic book character), Thunder of Zeuss takes you along 1.2 kilometres of windy track and past a statue of Zeuss himself in just 90 seconds. Make sure you take the time to explore the rest of the park while you're there, with the park's sections divided by country and many more cleverly conceptualised rides





SKYCYCLE
Washuzan Highland Park
Okayama, Japan

For the extreme thrill seeker, Japan's Skycycle is for you. A metal structure erected 45 feet in the air, you literally cycle your way through the trees, looking over the city, powered only by your own two feet. Not for the faint hearted.




MISSION: SPACE EPCOT
Walt Disney World
Florida, USA

The Mission: SPACE attraction at Walt Disney World Florida is a motion simulator thrill ride, replicating space travel in an incredibly accurate way. This ride, which takes you to Mars, was widely touted as being ground-breaking when it first opened in 2003.