Find out which cities offer stunning panoramas
© instagram.comThe idea to build the world's first Ferris wheel belonged to George Farris, who developed this attraction in 1893 for the World's Fair, which was held in Chicago. Its height at that time was unrealistic - more than 80 meters. Now the Ferris wheels are much higher, and what could be more beautiful than rising to a bird's eye view and from there observing the life of a huge metropolis? However, not every major city has such observation decks. We will tell you where the 7 largest Ferris wheels in the world are located, so that when planning your trip you will definitely include a visit to them in your program.
- Singapore Flyer, 165 m
A photo posted by Singapore Flyer (@singaporeflyer) on Apr 15, 2015 at 6:42pm PDT
Today, the largest Ferris wheel is located in Singapore. In the 37 minutes it takes the wheel to make a full circle, not only does it offer amazing views of the waterfront, but also of the neighboring islands. The Ferris Wheel in Singapore is equipped with 28 booths, each of which can accommodate 28 people. Singapore Flyer tickets cost $21.
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- Star of Nanchang, 160 m
A Ferris wheel in the Chinese city of Nanchang, the construction of which cost $7.3 million. The pleasure itself lasts exactly 30 minutes, and the cost is very affordable - $6. This is probably why the 60 Ferris wheel cabins, accommodating 8 people each, are almost never empty.
- London eye, 135 m
Rarely a tourist who has visited the capital of Great Britain has not taken a ride on the famous Ferris wheel, which is still considered the largest in Europe. The wheel is equipped with 32 booths, each of which symbolizes one of the London suburbs. The cost for a half-hour “session” is about $30. It is better to book tickets in advance on the official website. This will allow you to get a 10% discount and also avoid tiresome queues.
- The Southern star, 120 m
A photo posted by Sheen (@sheene) on Jun 19, 2013 at 8:17pm PDT
In the 20 minutes it takes for the Sky Dream Fukuoka wheel to complete a circle, tourists can see this modern city in full view. "Heavenly Dream" is still considered the largest Ferris wheel of the classical type. A ticket to the attraction costs $10, which is just pennies for expensive Japan in general.
- Suzhou Ferris Wheel, 120 m
This attraction opened its cabin doors to visitors back in 2009. Now residents and guests of the city of Suzhou in China can independently admire the natural beauty from above without having to go to London or Singapore.
- Tianjin Eye, 120 m
The attraction stands right above the Yongle Bridge, which was built in China. The Ferris wheel occupies a record place in the list of miracle wheels erected above bridges, namely at their top. The fee for the pleasure is as follows: an adult ticket costs 11 dollars and a child ticket costs 6 dollars.
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The world's tallest Ferris wheel will soon open at Ceasars Palace (Las Vegas), its height will be about 168 meters. However, this superiority will not last long - by the end of 2015, New York promises to present a similar attraction, but already 190 meters high, at the same time the grand opening of the “Eye of Dubai” wheel, whose height will be 210 meters, will take place.
This kind of unbridled competition of heights is nothing new. The very first Ferris wheel was built for the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893 (designed by George Farris) and was designed to eclipse another engineering marvel - the then-new Eiffel Tower. Since then, the main concept for building iconic Ferris wheels has been nothing less than to surpass the height of the famous predecessor.
In anticipation of the new giant, we reviewed 7 already existing remarkable Ferris wheels around the world, which not only attract with their size, but with an interesting history of creation, as well as the architectural talent of their creators.
Navy Pier Ferris Wheel(Chicago)
This 46-meter structure is almost a direct successor of the Chicago Wheel (1893) and is located on the Navy Pier. Although slightly smaller than its Chicago ancestor, which was retired in 1906, it is distinguished by its functionality and still works to provide visitors with a wonderful view of the Windy City. Entrance fee US$6
Big-O Ferris Wheel(Tokyo)
This 60-meter wheel is located right in the capital in the Tokyo Dome City shopping and entertainment complex. The design of the wheel is very different from its predecessors in that it has no spokes or central axle, and the path of the Thunder Dolphin coaster runs right through its center. Entrance fee US$8
London Eye Ferris wheel(London)
In 2000, London introduced what was then the tallest wheel in the world (135 meters), which became not only an attraction that operates all year round, but truly one of the main attractions of the city. Since then, the London Eye has brought good income to the city treasury, and in 2009 the amount of contributions reached a whopping level of 25 million US dollars. From the highest point of the wheel you can see the surroundings at a distance of 40 km, right up to Windsor Castle. Admission is $100 for a family of 4, $30 for an adult (over 16 years old), $24 for seniors, $19 for children (4-15 years old), free for children under 3 years of age. .
Ferris wheel Reisenrad(Vein)
The German word Reisenrad translates as “big wheel,” and indeed this 64-meter beauty, located in the Wurstelprater amusement park, was for some time the tallest in the world. Today the wheel can be called a “lucky survivor”, as it was built in 1897 for the golden jubilee of Emperor Franz Joseph I, survived two wars, and was featured in the film “The Third Man” in 1949. Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for children.
Texas Star Ferris Wheel(Dallas)
Until Vegas Lights opens in 2014, this 65-meter structure will remain the tallest in the United States. The wheel was built in 1985 and is decorated with 16 thousand red, white and blue lights. The Ferris wheel operates exclusively during the Texas State Fair (in 2013 it is held from 09/27 to 10/20). Admission to the fair is $17 per adult and $13 per child (under 1.2 meters)
Ferris wheel The Tianjin Eye(Tianjin)
The 120-meter Ferris wheel, built in 2007 in Tianjin, may not be noted as the tallest in the world or even in the world, but it is the only one in the world built on top of a bridge. At night, the attraction shimmers with lights and is reflected in the High River. Admission is $11 per adult and $6 per child.
Wonder Wheel(Brooklyn)
Developed in 1920 by Eccentric Ferris, the 46-meter wheel still adorns the Coney Island amusement park. The engineering concept made it possible to introduce distinctive features into this structure by placing the booths not only on the outer rim of the wheel, but also inside. Admission is $7.00. Photo materials used from Wikimedia © Foto, Wikimedia Commons
The height of the Singapore bird reaches 165 meters. From the peak point of this wheel you can see a beautiful panorama of not only Singapore, but also the neighboring islands of Indonesia and Malaysia. The basis of this structure is a three-story building, which houses numerous shops. And the capsules that lift people into the air on the Ferris wheel can accommodate up to 28 people each. The total number of capsules is also 28 pieces. The wheel makes a full revolution within half an hour. The price for this attraction ranges from $15 to $21.
Of course, upon arriving in Singapore, you should not have any problems finding it, since it can be seen from anywhere in the city. The easiest way to get to it is from Promenade station, which is on the yellow ring line, and about a 5-minute walk to the wheel itself.
The view of this structure is truly breathtaking, but when visiting this attraction, it is not enough just to ride in one of the cabins; you should definitely go to its shopping center or the main column of the Ferris wheel. There you will see numerous shops with a variety of souvenirs, gourmet restaurants, where you will certainly be offered the local Singapore Sling cocktail. In addition, the entertainment continues here - for men, on the second floor there is a Boeing 737 flight stimulator cabin, and on the same floor there is a famous fish spa, where they can relax their legs with the help of healing fish brought from Turkey.
The construction of a Ferris wheel with a height of 185 meters began in Germany. Berlin is also fighting for the status of the first such attraction. A Ferris wheel with 36 booths for visitors is planned to be launched soon. Its circuit can be completed in 35 minutes, and the cost will be 11 euros.
The construction of the wheel in China, reaching a height of 208 meters, is coming to an end. A Ferris wheel with the majestic name “Beijing Boat” is being built in the capital of China and will surpass all existing attractions in the world. The wheel contains 48 cabins, each of which can accommodate up to 40 people, and the cost of one trip will be 13 US dollars.
Russia also did not ignore this event. At the moment, the construction of the most gigantic Ferris wheel in the world has appeared. Its height should leave behind all the attempts of others and reveal a structure 220 meters high. The location for this attraction has not yet been confirmed. They have already come up with a name for it – “View of the Capital”.
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The tallest Ferris wheel in Moscow is located in the Wheel at All-Russian Exhibition Center park. The attraction is the highest not only in the capital, but throughout Russia and Eastern Europe. Located next to the VDNH metro station, on Mira Avenue, vl. 119.
Instructions
The Moscow 850 Ferris wheel was installed in 1997 and was dedicated to the 850th anniversary of Moscow. The height of the attraction is 73 meters, the speed of rotation is seven minutes. The structure has 35 closed and 5 open cabins with top fixation. Both types have 8 seats. The wheel is built to withstand hurricane gusts that can reach up to 40 m/s and earthquakes up to magnitude 9.
All visitors are allowed into closed booths. Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Ticket price - 300 rubles. But people who are at least 140 cm tall can enjoy the beauty of Moscow from open booths. The price of the service is 350 rubles. The park has a promotion for newlyweds: on their wedding day they can ride the Ferris wheel completely free of charge.
The attraction fully complies with the standards of GOST 53130. This is confirmed by the expert organization Promservice OJSC, which is accredited by Rosstandart of the Russian Federation. In September 2013, the drive of the attraction that rotated the wheels turned off. The people in the cabins were dropped off to the ground in a normal manner. The next day, the mechanics replaced the pusher and drew up a report. The attraction started working again. Print media widely covered this situation.
On September 6, it became known that the Regions Group of Companies, owned by the family of State Duma deputy Zelimkhan Mutsoev, will build a new Ferris wheel at VDNKh to replace the one that was demolished in the summer. The height of the structure will be 135 m, and the cost of the project will be 14 billion rubles, which will make it one of the largest and most expensive in the world. The top 10 competitors of the Moscow Ferris wheel are in the RBC photo gallery.
Since March 2014, the highest (167.5 m) and most expensive ($180 million) wheel in the world is the High Roller in Las Vegas. It is located next to three famous casinos: Caesars Palace, Flamingo Las Vegas and The Quad Resort & Casino.
The Singapore Flyer, opened in 2008 at the Marina Center in Singapore, was considered the largest Ferris wheel in the world. Its height reaches 165 m.
The London Eye opened in March 2000 on the banks of the Thames. In March 2008, about 400 passengers were trapped on the wheel for more than an hour while an emergency problem was repaired.
At 120m tall, The Southern star opened in Melbourne in 2008 and is the largest in Australia. $100 million was spent on its construction.
Sky Dream Fukuoka was opened in 2001 in Fukuoka (Japan). However, due to the high cost of service, it was closed and moved to Taiwan.
Suzhou Ferris Wheel opened in May 2009 in Suzhou, China.
Tianjin Eye was opened in April 2009 in Tianjin (China). In addition to its size, the wheel is notable for its location on the bridge over the Haihe River.
Construction of the Beijing Great Wheel in Beijing's Chaoyang Park began in 2007. It was originally planned that the wheel would open in 2009, but due to problems with financing, the $290 million project was suspended.
The Dubai Eye is being built on a man-made island near the Jumeriah Beach Residence area in Dubai. According to the project, its height will be 210 m. Thus, it could become the tallest on the planet. Investments in construction are also record high - $337 million.
People have always wanted to look at the world from what is called a “bird's eye view.” And this is not surprising, because from a great height you can better see many objects, as well as contemplate their beauty. This design was first presented in Chicago (in 1893). Despite its primitiveness, this wheel had a height of 80 meters and a mass of 2000 tons. Those who wanted to look at the world from above appreciated the beauty and sights for about twenty minutes - exactly how long it took the wheel to make one revolution.
Many years have passed since the first appearance of the Ferris wheel, but even today these designs are in considerable demand. Therefore, there are a lot of them both in our country and around the world. Moreover, architects even began a kind of competition to create tall and comfortable structures that would give people the opportunity to ride above the ground with pleasure and see a lot of interesting things. Let's find out what the largest Ferris wheel is in Russia, as well as what is the largest Ferris wheel in the world.
Sochi wheel
The tallest Ferris wheel in Russia is in Lazarevsky Park in Sochi. The height of the structure created by V. Gnezdilov is 83.5 m. This attraction opened in 2012. The wheel has fourteen open and closed booths. It takes eight minutes for the wheel to complete a circle. While making a high-altitude journey, guests of Lazarevsky Park can contemplate the Caucasus Range, the Black Sea and a wonderful view of the entire resort town. The ticket price depends on the type of booth and the operating time of the attraction - it ranges from 200 to 350 rubles.
Moscow wheel dedicated to the 850th anniversary of the capital
The largest Ferris wheel in Moscow (the second largest in our country) is present in the park at the All-Russian Exhibition Center. The author of the project was also V. Gnezdilov, who designed the wheel for the 850th anniversary of the capital (opened in 1995). This is the tallest Ferris wheel in Moscow, 73 meters high. The structure consists of 35 closed and 5 open booths. In 7 minutes, during which the Ferris wheel makes one revolution, you can see the beauties of Moscow, which are open to everyone who wants to take a ride. Before making a high-altitude trip, you should know that children under 16 years old without adults are not allowed on the wheel, and people whose height is less than 140 cm are also prohibited from entering the structure. The cost of a ticket for this attraction ranges from 300 to 350 rubles.
Kazan wheel
The 55-meter ferris wheel is located in the Kyrlay park. It is equipped with 40 closed cabins that can accommodate 6 people. In one hour, this wheel is ready to show all the beauties of the city to 3,600 people. In the evening, 10,000 light bulbs light up on the wheel, giving visitors the feeling of a real fairy tale.
Perm wheel
The wheel, installed at the highest point of the city, began to operate for the celebration of Victory Day in 2013. The 50-meter structure is located in Gorky Park. A special feature of this wheel is the room that is located at the base of the structure - the area of this room is 400 m2. The Perm Wheel allows you to observe the city's attractions even in winter, since the booths are heated.
Kaliningrad wheel
In this city, since 2012, there has been a 45-meter ferris wheel equipped with 20 closed cabins with air conditioning. There are also two VIP cabins, which in addition to air conditioning have a refrigerator. The rotation is controlled using a control panel, which allows you to adjust the speed - the wheel travels one circle in about one minute in a minimum time. In one hour of operation, this attraction is capable of lifting at least 1,000 people to a height.
The world's tallest wheel
And the tallest Ferris wheel in the world is in Singapore. “Soaring Singapore” extends 165 meters into the sky. Within 37 minutes, the structure makes one revolution - during this time you can admire the embankment and the adjacent islands. The design is equipped with 28 cabins that can accommodate 28 people.
Wheels planned for opening
In the capital of our Motherland, it is planned to launch the tallest Ferris wheel, the size of the spire of which will be 275 m. The attraction will consist of two rings, symbolizing, according to the author’s idea, “the union of Moscow and St. Petersburg.” Moreover, one of the rings will lie in a horizontal plane, and it will contain fountains, restaurants, a museum, and a winter greenhouse. The vertical ring, which will act as the Ferris wheel itself, will have a height of 221 m. It is planned that the wheel will be equipped with 48 cabins.
Very soon, “Soaring Singapore” will be removed from the “pedestal”, and the primacy among the tallest Ferris wheels will be taken by the New York Wheel, which is planned to open at the end of 2015. The height of the structure is 190 m. In total, the wheel has 36 cabins, in which 1,400 people can be transported at a time.
Three more major similar attractions are currently under construction. These are Ferris wheels:
- in Beijing - 207 m;
- in Berlin – 175 m;
- in Orlando - 122 m.
However, the construction of these facilities has been suspended due to lack of funds. Maybe in the near future these attractions will delight people with beautiful views of the city, landmarks, rivers and bridges.
