1. Origins from Russia
The roller coaster has its origins in St Petersburg, Russia, as a simple slide that took thrillseekers down an icy ramp past a variety of coloured lanterns. Catherine the Great gave this custom a boost when she fitted her imperial sleigh with wheels for summer use.
2. First modern rollercoaster
The first modern roller coaster, the Promenades Aeriennes, opened in Parc Beaujon in Paris on July 8, 1817. It featured wheeled cars securely locked to the track, guide rails to keep them on course, and higher speeds.
3. Longest rollercoaster
The longest roller coaster in the world is the Steel Dragon 2000 in the park Nagashima Spa Land in Japan. It is 8133 ft long and a ride has a duration of no less than four minutes! The maximum speed is 152km/h.
