Roller coasters have developed in leaps and bounds since the first "scenic railways" were built in the late-19th century. As theme parks all over the world bid to outdo each other, increasingly elaborate and extravagant coasters have been developed to perform all manner of hair-raising stunts. Here are five roller coasters worth experiencing:
Kingda Ka - Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, N.J.
Widely regarded as the world's greatest thrill-ride, Kingda Ka redefined roller coasters for the 21st century when it first opened in 2004. It holds the record as the world's tallest roller coaster as well as the second-fastest. This Strata Coaster (a type of roller coaster with a height or drop that is 400 feet or more and completes a full circuit) offers a uniquely thrilling experience as it catapults riders on a white-knuckle ride, reaching top speeds of 128 mph.
Millennium Force - Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
In 2000, the world's first Giga Coaster was built at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. The Millennium Force broke several records when it first opened, including the world's tallest closed-circuit roller coaster, at 310 feet. Along this monstrous coaster's 6,595-foot-long track, riders will encounter two, 122-degree over-banked turns, along with a hair-raising 300-foot drop at 80 degrees. The Millennium Force has garnered numerous accolades, including six Golden Ticket Awards for best steel roller coaster since 2001.
X2 - Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, Calif.
Billed as the world's first fourth dimension roller coaster, the X2 provides a thrill ride like no other. The unique design allows the seats to rotate forward and backward in a 360-degree controlled spin, which moves independently of the train's primary movement. This provides riders with a dizzying experience as they careen down a 200-foot dive and speed along the winding track with special fog and fire effects.
Steel Dragon 2000 - Nagashima Spa Land, Mie, Japan
When Steel Dragon opened in 2000, it stole the Millennium Force's briefly-held title as the world's tallest and longest closed-circuit roller coaster. The Steel Dragon is the star attraction at Nagashima Spa Land amusement park in Japan. Beginning with a 68-degree, 310-meter plunge, riders sail over a series of enormous humps and swerve through incredibly tight turns on this exhilarating ride.
Son of Beast - King's Island, Mason, Ohio
Steel roller coasters may be able to perform the most incredible, high-flying feats, but sometimes you can't beat the raw adrenaline rush of a wooden roller coaster ride. Son of Beast, in Kings Island theme park in Ohio, is quite possibly the greatest of them all, holding the world records as both the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in the world. Thanks to its immense size and speed, Son of Beast is able to perform stunts often thought impossible for wooden coasters, and is one of the few wooden roller coasters in the world to include a loop.
