In 1893, George W. Ferris built the world's first Ferris wheel for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, aiming to rival the Eiffel Tower at 80.4 meters high. Soon, with its 36 cockpits, it became a popular local entertainment.
However, a few months after the exposition, in April 1894, the world's first Ferris wheel was closed. That's when the race for the world's largest Ferris wheel kicked off, though. After more than 100 years of development, the height of the Ferris wheel has evolved from 80 meters in the early days to 250 meters today, and it has also developed from a European toy to today's all over the world. This article will tell you about the tallest Ferris wheels in the world.
1. Ain Dubai (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Height: 250 meters
Although Ain Dubai is the largest Ferris wheel in the world, it is not yet open to the public. Originally scheduled to open during the Dubai World Expo in 2020, however, due to the impact of the epidemic, the opening of Ain Dubai is nowhere in sight. The world's largest Ferris wheel, originally named "The Eye of Dubai", is located on a man-made blue water island in Dubai with a height of 250 meters, and was later renamed Ain Dubai. The bottom of Ain Dubai will be used as an entertainment area, while the 48 cockpits will offer expansive views of Dubai Marina and other Dubai landmarks.
2. High Roller Ferris Wheel (Las Vegas, USA)
Height: 167.6 meters
The High Roller Ferris Wheel in Las Vegas, USA is 167.6 meters high and 158.5 meters in diameter, making it the second largest Ferris wheel in the world. The Ferris wheel welcomed its first passengers in March 2014. Although the original plan for the High Roller Ferris Wheel was to have 32 cabins, it ended up with only 28, each with a capacity of 40 people. The wheels spin on a pair of custom-designed spherical bearings. A 30-minute drive offers 360-degree views of the Las Vegas Strip and the Las Vegas Valley.
3. Singapore Flyer (Singapore)
Height: 165 meters
The Singapore Flyer is one of the landmarks of Singapore, located in the center of Singapore city. Although it is no longer the largest Ferris wheel in the world, it is still the largest in Asia. Opened to the public in March 2008, the Singapore Flyer has 28 air-conditioned cabins, each capable of carrying 28 passengers. Since opening, the Singapore Flyer has faced several glitches due to technical issues. In 2008, 173 people were stranded for six hours due to a short circuit in the control room and a breakdown caused by a fire.
4. The London Eye (London, UK)
Height: 135 meters
One of London's landmarks, the London Eye, is also one of London's most popular paid tourist attractions. At 135 meters high and 120 meters in diameter, it was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world when it opened in 2000, but has since been surpassed by an even larger Ferris wheel. However, its operators still tout it as "the world's tallest cantilevered observation wheel". The London Eye was originally only intended to exist for about five years, but the operator has since submitted an application for permanent status approved by the council. The London Eye has a total of 32 oval-shaped passenger compartments. Each air-conditioned passenger cabin can accommodate up to 25 people. The roulette can complete a turn in 30 minutes, and while it doesn't stop to greet passengers, it spins slowly enough to get passengers on the ground on and off.
5. Sky Dream (Taichung, Taiwan, China)
Height: 126 meters
The Sky Dream Ferris Wheel in Taichung, Taiwan opened in 2017 and is 126 meters high. The Ferris wheel is located in Lihpao Land and attracts a lot of tourists. Parts for this behemoth were purchased from Japan and shipped 13 times before they were shipped out. Sky Dream has a total of 60 cockpits, each can accommodate 8 people, and it takes about 25 minutes to rotate once.
