Oblivion, Steel roller coaster at Alton Towers, England.
This ride plunges nearly straight down into an open tunnel at speeds reaching 68 miles per hour (110 kilometers per hour). The track drops sharply before curving back upward in a tight banking turn.
The ride opened in March 1998 after a secret construction project known as SW4. It was designed by John Wardley and became the first roller coaster anywhere to feature a vertical freefall drop.
The ride experience includes pre-boarding entertainment with overhead screens delivering technical briefings mixed with British humor.
The ride lasts under a minute and loads groups in trains with seven rows each. Visitors must be at least 140 centimeters tall and are entertained by video briefings before boarding.
Two cameras photograph passengers during the plunge and just after the turn. The images usually show open mouths and distorted faces that appear on screens immediately after the ride.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
