Manta (SeaWorld San Diego) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Manta |
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The entrance.
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| SeaWorld San Diego | |
| Location | SeaWorld San Diego |
| Coordinates | 32°46′01″N 117°13′41″W / 32.767063°N 117.227998°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Soft opening date | May 23, 2012 |
| Opening date | May 26, 2012 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Launched – Family |
| Manufacturer | Mack Rides |
| Lift/launch system | LSM |
| Height | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Drop | 54 ft (16 m) |
| Length | 2,835 ft (864 m) |
| Speed | 43 mph (69 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 1:56 |
| Capacity | 1400 riders per hour |
| G-force | Between 3 and 4 Gs |
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Trains | 4 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 20 riders per train. |
 Quick Queue available |
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| Manta at RCDB | |
Manta is an exciting roller coaster at SeaWorld San Diego in San Diego, California. It's a special type of coaster called a launched roller coaster. This means it uses powerful motors to shoot you forward instead of a tall lift hill.
Manta is a "family" coaster, designed for riders of many ages. It was built by a company called MACK Rides. The ride first opened to the public on May 26, 2012.
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How Manta Was Built
Plans for a new roller coaster at SeaWorld San Diego began around 2007. By early 2011, details about a new ride started to appear. It was going to be a $10 million project. This new attraction would feature a ride and an animal exhibit.
On February 9, 2011, SeaWorld San Diego officially announced the new coaster. They revealed its name would be Manta. The ride was designed to open in 2012.
Riding the Manta Coaster
Manta is known for its two thrilling launches. Riders on Manta can reach speeds of up to 43 miles per hour (69 km/h). The entire ride lasts about two minutes. The track is quite long, stretching over 2,800 feet (853 meters).
The coaster stands 30 feet (9 meters) tall. It also has a unique drop of 54 feet (16 meters). Part of this drop even goes underground! The height of the ride was limited by rules for building near the California coast.
Meet the Manta Trains
The trains on Manta are very cool. They are designed to look like manta rays. Each train has five cars. Each car seats two riders across in two rows. This means a total of 20 riders can go on one train. The second row of seats is a bit higher. This gives everyone a great view of the ride ahead.
Amazing Special Effects
The Manta ride starts with a special experience. Before the first launch, you enter a 270-degree projection tunnel. A film of a coral reef and a school of rays is shown all around you. The train even rocks back and forth with the video. This makes you feel like you are swimming with the rays!
During special events like Electric Ocean, Manta changes after 7 PM. It becomes "Manta re-charged." The film projection then shows a dazzling display of colored lights.
Explore the Manta Animal Exhibit
Manta isn't just a roller coaster; it's also home to an amazing animal exhibit. The exhibit used to be called Forbidden Reef. Now it's part of the Manta attraction.
The exhibit has two main parts. There is a touch pool where you can gently interact with some animals. Below that is a large aquarium. This aquarium holds 100,000 US gallons (378,541 liters) of water. It is home to 65 Bat rays. You can also see 10 Shovelnose guitarfish and 2 White sturgeons. Plus, there are more than 400 other kinds of fish swimming around!
