July 19, 2007

Thrills, spills and bellyaches

Roller coasters are getting bigger, faster and scarier - which is what we all love about them. Mat Smith picks out some of the most hair-raising.

The 'Kingda Ka' roller coaster at Six Flags amusement park in Jackson, New Jersey, USA — The 'Kingda Ka' roller coaster at Six Flags amusement park in Jackson, New Jersey, USA. Currently the tallest and fastest in the world, it launches riders from 0 to 128 mph in 3.5 seconds before catapulting them 456 feet into the sky. Photograph: Noah K. Murray/Corbis

The 'Nemesis' ride at Alton Towers theme park — The 'Nemesis' ride at Alton Towers theme park, UK. In 2004 Nemesis gained the world record for the most naked people to ride a roller coaster. Photograph: Don McPhee/Guardian

The roller coaster at the Pleasure Beach at Blackpool, UK — The roller coaster at the Pleasure Beach at Blackpool, UK. When opened in 1994, The Pepsi Max Big One was the tallest, fastest and steepest roller coaster in the world. Photograph: Britain on view

Cedar Point amusement park's Top Thrill coaster — The Top Thrill dragster at Cedar Point amusement park, Sandusky, Ohio, USA. It was the first roller coaster in the world to reach 120 mph. Photograph: Gene J Puskar/AP

The Colossus at Thorpe Park — The Colossus at Thorpe Park, UK. It was the world's first roller coaster with ten inversions, and is also the world's first roller coaster to have four heartline twists in a row - these are inversions in which the rider performs a 360-degree roll. Photograph: Frank Baron/Guardian

The Roar roller coaster at Six Flags Marine Park in Vallejo, California, USA — The Roar roller coaster at Six Flags Marine Park in Vallejo, California, USA. It features 22 crossovers and a 200 foot-long roofed tunnel. Photograph: Jason Hawkes/Corbis

The Top Thrill dragster at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, USA — The Top Thrill dragster at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, USA. One of the world's largest amusement parks, Cedar Point has 17 roller coasters - currently the world record. Photograph: Jason Werling/AP

The Dodonpa at Fujikyu Highland amusement park in Fuji-Yosida, west of Tokyo, Japan — The Dodonpa at Fujikyu Highland amusement park in Fuji-Yosida, west of Tokyo, Japan. It's the third fastest roller coaster in the world, but it has the highest acceleration at launch time. Photograph: Haruyoshi Yamaguchi/Corbis

The Stealth rollercoaster at Thorpe Park — The Stealth rollercoaster at Thorpe Park, UK. Opened in 2006, Stealth launches passengers to 80mph in 1.9 seconds. Photograph: Daniel Berehulak/Getty

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