Every year on 16 August people from across the country will be flocking to amusement parks to celebrate National Roller Coaster Day, a day created especially for all those adrenaline junkies.
Although the creator for this holiday could not be found, this day has been celebrated for many years.
Despite the fact that the Russian Mountain roller coasters were around from as early as the 17th century, a patent for wooden roller coasters was awarded to LaMarcus Adna Thompson in 1885.
The oldest roller coasters are believed to have originated from the so-called Russian Mountains, which were specially constructed hills of ice located around Saint Petersburg in Russia. The slides were built to reach a height of between 28 and 30 metres, with a 50 degree drop, supported and reinforced by wooden supports.
A roller coaster is similar to a specialised railroad system and consists of one or more cars on a track that rises and falls in a designed pattern, often containing a few vertical loops, at a thrilling speed, that delights some users and leaves others terrified.
Celebrate today by gathering your friends and family and visiting your local amusement park to enjoy one (or several!) roller coaster rides while you throw your hands in the air and feel the wind blowing through your hair as you rush through the loops. If you cannot get to a roller coaster today, make sure to plan your next roller coaster ride as soon as possible.
Post on social media using #NationalRollerCoasterDay.
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