PHOTO: High Roller, Las Vegas, Nevada (courtesy The Linq Facebook page)
When the High Roller opened at Las Vegas' new Linq entertainment complex on Monday, it officially became the world's tallest Ferris wheel.
The High Roller was able to do what so many Ferris wheels couldn't since 2008: eclipse the Singapore Flyer in height.
The Caesars-produced observation wheel boasts more than just height, though. It also accommodates more than 1,000 passengers while providing a fairly lengthy ride above the magnificent Las Vegas skyline.
For more on the High Roller, and other top Ferris wheels in the world, read on.
As they say, the world goes 'round and 'round.
High Roller (Las Vegas, Nevada)
The High Roller, which debuted on Monday courtesy of Caesars Entertainment, is now the world's tallest Ferris wheel, reaching 550 feet up into the sky.
Part of the new Linq entertainment and retail complex, and across from Caesars Palace on Las Vegas Blvd., the monumental structure boasts 28 pods that can accommodate up to 40 people each. At full capacity, the High Roller can hold 1,100 passengers.
Visitors who went on the 30-minute ride on Monday have already been gushing about the High Roller, especially those who witnessed the bright lights of Vegas on the new attraction at night.
Singapore Flyer (Singapore)
The High Roller bumped the Singapore Flyer out of the top spot for world's tallest Ferris wheel on Monday, but that doesn't change the fact that the Singapore Flyer is still 541 feet tall.
Opened in 2008, the colossal observation wheel features views of Marina Bay and neighboring countries Malaysia and Indonesia. It boasts 28 pods that can hold up to 28 people each, accommodating 784 people at max capacity.
According to SingaporeFlyer.com, its 150-meter diameter is "about the length of 87 Singaporean men lying down head-to-toe." Its height is equivalent to 31 male giraffes stacked on top of one another.
The 30-minute ride is designed to emphasize simplicity and harmony, while adding a dash of experimentation.
Star of Nanchang (Nanchang, China)
The Star of Nanchang skies 525 feet up into the clouds and boasts a diameter of about 505 feet (153 meters).
It includes 60 cabins that can accommodate eight passengers each, for a grand total of 480 passengers. The ride lasts 30 minutes and each cabin is climate-controlled.
It also took "only" $7.3 million to construct the third-tallest Ferris wheel in the world.
While the Star of Nanchang lost the title of the world's tallest Ferris wheel to the Singapore Flyer less than two years after it was built, it still stands among the world's greatest Ferris wheels.
It's also unique in that it features 21,300 feet of fluorescent lights.
London Eye (London, United Kingdom)
The London Eye is currently the fourth-tallest Ferris wheel in the world at 135 meters (442 feet), or 64 red telephone boxes piled on top of each other.
Before the worldwide recession in 2009, it brought in a one-year profit of $25 million. It attracts about 3.5 million visitors per year.
Once the world's tallest observation wheel, since opening in 2000 it has won more than 85 awards for international tourism, architectural quality and engineering. To keep it running, it requires a staff of 180 people.
The 30-minute ride capable of hosting 800 passengers in its 32 capsules took seven years to build, requiring the help of hundreds of people from five different countries.
Suzhou Ferris Wheel (Suzhou, China)
The Suzhou Ferris Wheel stands 394 feet tall, but it doesn't get as much attention because it makes its home in the Ferris wheel destination of the world, China.
Despite its grand dimensions, the Suzhou Ferris Wheel is joined by three other operating Chinese observation wheels at 394 feet tall, and that doesn't include the two 394-foot Chinese wheels that were shut down.
Still, there's something to be said about being in a tie for fifth-tallest Ferris wheel. The Suzhou Ferris Wheel also features 60 cabins that hold five passengers each, holding 300 visitors at max capacity. Ride time is 20 minutes for the $45 million structure.
Honorable mention: Tianjin Eye (394 feet-Tianjin, China), Changsha Ferris Wheel (394 feet-Changsha, China), Zhengzhou Ferris Wheel (394 feet-Zhengzhou, China), Diamond and Flower Ferris Wheel (Tokyo, Japan), Star of Lake Tai (Lake Tai, China)
Be on the lookout for: The Dubai Eye (2015), New York Wheel (2016)
Follow me on Twitter @RyanRudnansky
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