On Roller Coaster Day, we're at Skyline Park in Bavaria, Germany
© Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/Getty Image
Keep your hands inside the ride at all times…
This roller coaster at Skyline Park in Bad Wörishofen, Germany, like all other modern coasters, can trace its lineage back to the engineering work of Russian refugees living in 17th-century Portugal. To recreate the fun of sledding down snow-covered hills, the Russians built ice-bearing wooden platforms and ramps similar to very large playground slides. As the concept of the ‘Russian Mountain’ ride caught on across Europe, mechanical parts came into play, including sled-like vehicles to ride in, and rails to keep the carts on track. Over the centuries, these coaster-like rides grew to resemble the extreme, gravity-challenging thrill rides we see at modern theme parks. Where is your favorite roller coaster?
Related Images
Water wheels in the Tashkurgan Grassland, Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County, Xinjiang, China
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas
For the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, bridges over the Vltava River, Prague, Czech Republic
Seville, Spain’s Guadalquivir River and Triana Bridge for the 500th anniversary of Magellan’s departure
Independence Day fireworks over the National Mall, Washington, DC
Millennium Bridge with St. Paul's Cathedral in the background, London, England
The High Trestle Trail Bridge in central Iowa
The Seventeen-Arch Bridge over Kunming Lake, Beijing Summer Palace, China
Bing Today Images
