Behemoth (roller coaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Behemoth |
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View of Behemoth from the south in October 2008
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| Canada's Wonderland | |
| Location | Canada's Wonderland |
| Park section | Action Zone |
| Coordinates | 43°50′20.4″N 79°32′26.3″W / 43.839000°N 79.540639°W |
| Status | Open |
| Soft opening date | 25 April 2008 |
| Opening date | 4 May 2008 |
| Cost | C$26 million est. |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel |
| Manufacturer | Bolliger & Mabillard |
| Model | Hypercoaster |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift |
| Height | 70 m (230 ft) |
| Drop | 69 m (226 ft) |
| Length | 1,620.9 m (5,318 ft) |
| Speed | 124 km/h (77 mph) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 3:10 |
| Max vertical angle | 75° |
| Capacity | 1545 riders per hour |
| G-force | 4.5 |
| Height restriction | 137–203 cm (4 ft 6 in – 6 ft 8 in) |
| Trains | 3 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 32 riders per train. |
 Fast Lane Plus only available |
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| Behemoth at RCDB | |
Behemoth is a giant steel roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland. This popular theme park is located in Vaughan, Ontario. A Swiss company called Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) designed and built it.
When Behemoth first opened in May 2008, it was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in all of Canada! It held these records until 2012. That's when another huge coaster, Leviathan, opened at the very same park. Behemoth is similar to other big coasters like Diamondback at Kings Island.
Behemoth is known for its incredible speed and height. It also changes direction and elevation very quickly. This makes it one of the most exciting rides at Canada's Wonderland. It can also carry many riders every hour, making it very efficient.
This roller coaster has a special seating design. It's called a "prototype" because it was new for this type of coaster. This design makes sure everyone gets a clear view of the ride. The whole ride lasts about three minutes. You'll reach a top speed of 124 km/h (77 mph) in less than four seconds! The ride also features five "air-time" hills, a special turn called a hammerhead turn, and two helixes (spiral turns).
Contents
Behemoth's History
How Behemoth Was Built
Canada's Wonderland announced Behemoth on August 27, 2007. Building this ride was a huge project. It cost about C$26 million, which was the biggest investment in the park's history at that time.
Planning and building Behemoth took about 17 and a half months. The steel track and supports were finished on January 22, 2008. The ride officially opened for media on April 24, 2008. Season pass holders got a special preview on April 25, 2008. Finally, Behemoth opened to everyone on May 4, 2008.
In 2014, seat belts were added to the trains for extra safety.
Ride Features
What Makes Behemoth Special?
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Bolliger & Mabillard, the company that built Behemoth, says that "Height, speed, airtime characterize the Hyper Coaster." This means these rides are all about being tall, fast, and giving you that floating feeling.
Canada's Wonderland rates Behemoth as a five out of five. This is their highest rating, like a "double black diamond" for skiing. It means the ride has "high speeds and/or heights." It also has "aggressive and unexpected forces" and "rapid directional or elevation change." Riders must be at least 137 centimetres (54 in) tall to ride Behemoth.
Behemoth can handle about 1,545 riders every hour. This makes it one of the most efficient roller coasters at the park.
The Trains
Behemoth has three open-air trains made of steel and fiberglass. They have a special "v-shaped" seating design. This means riders sit slightly staggered, so everyone gets a clear view. This design was new for B&M roller coasters. It was later used on other rides like Diamondback at Kings Island.
The trains are colored red, orange, and yellow. You can tell them apart by their front sections. Each train has eight cars. Four guests can sit in each car, so a total of 32 people can ride on one train. Riders are held in place by a lap bar and a seatbelt.
The Track
The steel track is 1,620.9 metres (5,318 ft) long. The lift hill, which takes you to the top, is about 70 metres (230 ft) high. The first drop is very steep, at about a 75-degree angle. The track also uses special "trim brakes" and "magnetic brakes" to help control the speed smoothly.
The Station
The ride has a two-story station building. This is where riders get on and off the trains. The ground floor is where the trains are maintained.
Upstairs, at the boarding area, there are three cabinets for loose items. Each cabinet is color-coded for one of the three trains. This helps keep things organized. The operator's booth, where the ride is controlled, is also on this platform.
The Gift Shop
Unlike many other rides at the park, Behemoth has its own gift shop. Here, you can buy souvenirs from the ride. You can also see photos taken of you during the ride!
Your Ride Experience
The Behemoth ride lasts about three minutes. It starts when your train leaves the station and turns right. Then, a chain lift slowly pulls you up the tall lift hill. You'll reach the coaster's highest point, 70 metres (230 ft) up in the air!
From the top, you can see amazing views. To your left, you might spot the famous CN Tower in Toronto. To your right, you can see the whole park spread out below.
Then comes the thrilling first drop! The train plunges down at a 75-degree angle. You'll reach a top speed of 125 km/h (78 mph) in less than four seconds. At the bottom, the train banks slightly right and then climbs over the first "air-time" hill. You'll feel like you're floating!
Next, the train goes up into a sharp 180-degree turn called a hammerhead turn. After this turn, you'll go down and then up and over three more air-time hills. Following these hills, the train climbs a steep slope into a "mid-course brake run." This briefly slows you down.
After the brakes, the train turns right and drops into a downward 540-degree helix (a spiral). Right after that, it climbs into an upward 270-degree helix to the left. Finally, there's a small drop and one last hill. The train then climbs into the final brake run. It waits there until it's clear to return to the station. The train then turns 180 degrees left and pulls back into the station.
