Taiga (roller coaster)
Taiga | |
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Linnanmäki | |
Location | Linnanmäki |
Coordinates | 60°11′18.64″N 24°56′20.68″E / 60.1885111°N 24.9390778°E |
Status | Operating |
Opening date | June 18, 2019 |
Replaced | Vonkaputous |
General statistics | |
Type | Steel – Launched |
Manufacturer | Intamin |
Model | Blitz Coaster |
Lift/launch system | Linear synchronous motor Launch |
Height | 170.6 ft (52.0 m) |
Drop | 105 ft (32 m) |
Length | 3,622 ft (1,104 m) |
Speed | 65.9 mph (106.1 km/h) |
Inversions | 4 |
Duration | 1:05[1] |
Capacity | 860 riders per hour |
G-force | 5 |
Height restriction | 55 in (140 cm) |
Taiga at RCDB |
Taiga is a steel roller coaster located at the Linnanmäki amusement park in Helsinki, Finland. Taiga is the tallest (52m), fastest (106km/h) and longest (1,104m) roller coaster in Finland.[2]
History
[edit]Linnanmäki announced in early 2018, after a series of teaser social media posts, that the park was to build "its greatest ride project ever". This was to be a launched roller coaster built by Swiss manufacturer Intamin, and would surpass each of the records of height, length and speed held to date by Finnish roller coasters.[3] The coaster replaced the park's longstanding Premier Rides water coaster, Vonkaputous.
Taiga opened on June 18, 2019.
Ride experience
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Taiga_Linnanm%C3%A4ki_%2820190629%29_2.jpg/220px-Taiga_Linnanm%C3%A4ki_%2820190629%29_2.jpg)
The ride starts with a rolling LSM launch out of the station which leads into a Zero-g winder, followed by a series of banked right and left handed sweeping turns. Following these, the train arrives at the coaster's second and final launch: here the train is launched to the rides' top speed of 106.1 kilometres per hour (65.9 mph) up to a 52 metres (171 ft) top hat, before pulling down to the right into a Zero-g stall. The train then navigates a small airtime hill before rising into a large immelman loop. A further series of right and left handed S-bends leads the coaster to its final inversion, an in-line twist after which it reaches the brake run and station.[4]
Theme
[edit]The name Taiga derives from a Russian word that refers to boreal or snow forests - which make up much of Finland's geography. These are areas of land that are mostly pine, spruce, and larch forests. The ride's theme is primarily based around a nesting eagle (which can be seen on the front of the train), which makes regular observation flights from its nest around the park.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Taiga - POV - Linnanmäki - Intamin - LSM Coaster - Onride/Offride". Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "Taiga – Linnanmäki, Finland". Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "Linnanmäki Amusement Park, in Helsinki, Finland, announces their biggest roller coaster project ever: Taiga is Getting Ready to Launch!". 22 March 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "Taiga - POV - Linnanmäki - Intamin - LSM Coaster - Onride/Offride". Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "Take to the sky on Taiga at Linnanmäki". Retrieved 28 June 2020.