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Steel Dragon 2000 is a roller coaster at Nagashima Spa Land Amusement Park in Mie Prefecture, Japan. Built by Morgan Manufacturing, this gigacoaster opened, appropriately, in 2000 - "The Year of the Dragon" in the Far East. It debuted only months after Millennium Force and surpassed the Cedar Point coaster as the world's tallest complete-circuit coaster. It also set a record for longest track length - 8133 feet, 2 inches (2479 m), which it currently holds.
Coaster Facts
Steel Dragon 2000 is the tallest coaster to utilize a traditional chain lift. Because of the length of the lift hill, two chains are used - one for the bottom half and one for the top half. A single chain would have been excessively long and heavy, at least twice the weight of one of the trains. As a result, two trains can safely occupy the lift simultaneously.
The building of Steel Dragon 2000 required far more steel than other coasters for earthquake protection. This put the cost of the coaster at over $50,000,000.
On August 23, 2003, Steel Dragon 2000 was involved in an accident during a run in which one of its trains lost a wheel. The coaster did not operate during the 2004 and 2005 park seasons. It is open as of September 3, 2006.
World's Tallest Complete Circuit Roller Coaster
August 2000–May 2003
World's Longest Roller Coaster
August 2000–Present Record Holder
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_Dragon_2000"
Japan is really quite amazing when it comes to technology and architecture...and when they push construction science to the limits the results are breathtakingly wonderful...like this extraordinary Steel Dragon...one of the world's tallest and longest roller coaster that will keep you screaming...shrieking...and yelling for 3 long minutes.
I didn't grab that chance in a lifetime...those who have heart problems are not permitted...sigh...but I doubt whether I could.
You couldn't pay me to ride this. To scary!!!
ReplyDeleteWith my health condition I didn't wish taking that risk...it's scary,big deal. Looking at the steel dragon, I felt like an ant. But I wonder how it was on top of this behemoth roller coaster ever.
ReplyDelete