Ferris wheel facts for kids
A Ferris wheel is a giant spinning wheel with special seats for people to ride in. These seats, often called cabins or capsules, are attached to the rim of the wheel. As the wheel slowly turns, the seats stay upright, usually because of gravity. It's a super popular amusement ride found at many state fairs and parks around the world.
Some very large Ferris wheels have seats on the outside of the rim. These seats can even spin on their own using electric motors. This helps them stay upright and gives riders amazing views. These special wheels are sometimes called "observation wheels."
The very first Ferris wheel was created by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr.. He designed it for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It was a huge landmark! Today, the name "Ferris wheel" is used for all similar rides.
Since that first amazing wheel in 1893, there have been nine different Ferris wheels that held the record for being the tallest. The current record holder is the High Roller in Las Vegas, USA. It stands about 167.6 meters (550 feet) tall and opened in March 2014.
Contents
What is an Observation Wheel?
The term "observation wheel" is another name for a Ferris wheel. When the company building the first Ferris wheel was formed in 1892, they said their goal was to build wheels for "observation or amusement." This shows that even back then, people saw them as a way to get a great view.
Some Ferris wheels are specifically called "observation wheels" by their operators. This often happens when the wheel is very large and becomes a famous landmark for a city or event.
How Observation Wheels Are Different
The main difference often comes down to how the passenger seats are built.
- Most traditional Ferris wheels have seats that hang from the rim. Gravity keeps them upright as the wheel spins.
- Observation wheels often have their seats mounted on the outside of the wheel's rim. These seats, often called "capsules," have their own electric motors. These motors can rotate each capsule independently to keep it level. This gives riders a smoother experience and better views.
Only four Ferris wheels with these special motorized capsules have ever been built.
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
Famous Observation Wheels
The High Roller in Las Vegas, which is 167.6 meters (550 feet) tall, has clear, round capsules mounted on the outside. It is called both a Ferris wheel and an observation wheel.
The Singapore Flyer is 165 meters (541 feet) tall. It has cylindrical capsules that are also mounted on the outside and are motorized. Its operators call it an observation wheel. However, when it opened in 2008, many news outlets called it the "world's largest Ferris wheel."
The London Eye is 135 meters (443 feet) tall. It is often called a "giant Ferris wheel" by the media. Its operators call it the "world's tallest cantilevered observation wheel." They say it's not a Ferris wheel because its capsules are fully enclosed, climate-controlled, motorized, and mounted on the outside. Also, the whole structure is supported on only one side. However, the Singapore Flyer is supported on both sides, and the London Eye's own website sometimes calls it "Europe's tallest Ferris wheel."
The Melbourne Star in Australia is 120 meters (394 feet) tall. It has oval-shaped, motorized capsules mounted on the outside. Its operators describe it as "the only observation wheel in the southern hemisphere." Yet, the media often calls it a Ferris wheel.
There are plans for new wheels, like the New York Wheel, which was supposed to start construction in 2015. Its designs also showed a wheel with externally mounted, motorized capsules.
Images for kids
-
High Roller, in Las Vegas, Nevada, was the world's tallest operational Ferris wheel from 2014 to 2021.
-
Dancing the hora on Dealul Spirii (Spirii Hill), Bucharest, Romania (1857 lithograph).
-
Magic-City, Paris, France, 1913.
-
William Somers' Wheel, installed 1892, was a precursor to the original Ferris Wheel.
-
The original Chicago Ferris Wheel, built for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
-
The 94 meter (308 feet) Great Wheel at Earls Court, London, was the world's tallest Ferris wheel from 1895 to 1900.
-
The 96 meter (315 feet) Grande Roue de Paris, was the world's tallest Ferris wheel from 1900 to 1920.
-
Artist's impression of the 175 meter (574 feet) Great Berlin Wheel. This project faced financial problems.
-
SkyWheel Helsinki, formerly known as Finnair SkyWheel, is the only Ferris wheel in the world with a sauna in one of its gondola cabins.
-
An indoor Ferris wheel in Toys-R-Us, New York City.
-
Big O, a 60 meter (197 feet) tall centerless wheel at Tokyo Dome City in Japan.
-
Roue de Paris, a Ronald Bussink R60 transportable wheel, at Geleen in the Netherlands in 2005.
-
Hermann Eccentric Ferris Wheel with sliding cars, from US patent 1354436, 1915. There is no record of it ever being built.
-
Wonder Wheel, a 45.7 meter (150 feet) tall eccentric wheel at Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, Coney Island, was built in 1920.
-
Disney California Adventure's Pixar Pal-A-Round. It was built in 2001 and is modeled on the Wonder Wheel.
-
Cosmo Clock 21, was the world's tallest wheel from 1989 to 1997.
-
Ruota dei Pionieri, Minitalia Leolandia Park, Italy (manufactured by Zamperla).
-
A four-car, 30 meter (98 feet) tall drive-in Ferris wheel at Harbourfront, Toronto, Canada, in 2004.
-
A wheel built by the Swedish group at the 21st World Scout Jamboree.
-
A passenger-powered, 2-seat Cyclecide wheel at the 2007 Bumbershoot festival in Seattle.
-
Ferris wheel in the Park Divo Ostrov, St. Petersburg.
-
Bay Glory in Bao'an Seashore Cultural Park, Shenzhen, China, in 2021.
.jpg)
_c._1892.jpg)
_(2).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Noria (atracción) para niños
