La Grande Glisade) entertainment pavilion designed by Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli for Tsarskoye Selo royal residence was built in 1754–1757. Later, in 1784, Catherine the Great is said to have constructed a sledding hill in the gardens of her palace at Oranienbaum in St. Built-in the 17th century, the slides were built to a height of between 21 and 24 m (70 and 80 feet), had a 50-degree drop, and were reinforced by wooden supports. The oldest roller coasters are believed to have originated from the so-called 'Russian Mountains', specially constructed hills of ice located in the area that is now Saint Petersburg, Russia. Main article: History of the roller coaster The Russian Mountains and the Aerial Promenades One variation, a shuttle roller coaster, reverses at some point throughout the course of the ride to return to the station along the same path. Tracks are typically built and designed as a complete circuit in which trains depart from and return to the same loading station. Roller coasters first appeared in the 17th century, and LaMarcus Adna Thompson obtained one of the first known patents for a roller coaster design in 1885, based on the Switchback Railway which opened a year earlier at Coney Island. Trains consist of open cars connected in a single line, and the rides are often found in theme parks around the world. The Scenic Railway at Luna Park, Melbourne, is the world's second-oldest operating roller coaster, built in 1912.Ī roller coaster is a type of amusement ride employing a form of elevated railroad track that carries passengers on a train through tight turns, steep slopes, and other elements designed to produce a thrilling experience.

For other uses, see Roller coaster (disambiguation).

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