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Behemoth (roller coaster)
Encyclopedia
Behemoth is a steel roller coaster
at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan
, Ontario
, Canada
. It is a Hyper Coaster designed and developed by Swiss
manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard
. Behemoth is currently the tallest and fastest roller coaster
in Canada. However, in 2012, Leviathan
, also manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, will be built at the opposite end of Canada's Wonderland "stripping" Behemoth's tallest and fastest titles. The ride is similar to Diamondback
(Kings Island
), Goliath (La Ronde
) and Nitro
(Six Flags Great Adventure
).
After a year and a half of preparation and development, Behemoth premiered in May 2008. With its high speeds, tall heights and rapid changes in both direction and elevation, the attraction is one of the most aggressive thrill rides in the park. Behemoth also has a high hourly passenger throughput making it one of the most efficient rides in the park.
The ride features a prototype seating arrangement to ensure an unobstructed view for every rider a first for a roller coaster of this type. The Behemoth experience lasts for approximately three minutes and subjects the rider to a maximum speed of 125 km/h (77 mph) achieved in less than 3.9 seconds followed by five air-time
hills, a hammerhead turn
and two helix
es.
Behemoth has been praised by critics and is the most popular attraction at Canada's Wonderland, as well as the flagship attraction.
On October 1, 2011, one of Behemoth's train vallied (the term given when a roller coaster stops in the middle of the course because of the loss of momentum) right before the mid-course-brake-run. On that day there were strong winds which played the main role for the loss of momentum. At the time, another train was making its way up the lift which stopped almost at the end of the lift for obvious safety reasons. There were no riders on both trains at the time.
26 million ride represented the single biggest investment in the 27-year history of Canada's Wonderland. When completed, Behemoth became the 15th roller coaster at the park.
After 18 months of planning and construction, steel construction of the track and supports was completed on January 22, 2008. The ride was officially opened on April 24, 2008 for Media Day. On Season Pass Preview Night, the ride was open to season pass holders on April 25, 2008. Behemoth opened to the public on May 4, 2008.
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Behemoth is rated a five out of five (double black diamond) according to Wonderland's Attraction Rating System. This rating specifies that the ride will have "high speeds and/or heights, aggressive and unexpected forces and rapid directional or elevation change." Passengers of any age must be 137 cm (54 inches) tall to ride.
Behemoth has a high throughput and will accommodate approximately 1545 passengers an hour, making it one of the most efficient roller coasters in the park.
feature a prototype v-shaped staggered seating arrangement to ensure an unobstructed view for every rider." This prototype design is a first for Bolliger & Mabillard roller coasters which was later reproduced for Diamondback
at Kings Island
. The trains are named Red Train, Orange Train, and Yellow Train, after their coloured fronts. Each of the trains comprise eight cars, seating four guests each for a total capacity of 32. Each passenger is seated in a bucket seat restrained by a lapbar harness; some persons over a certain weight/waist size cannot be accommodated by this arrangement.
The steel track is 1620.9 meters (5318 ft) in length and the height of the lift is approximately 70 meters (230 ft). The angle of the first descent is approximately 75 degrees. The track includes trim brakes and magnetic brakes for smoothness.
At the boarding area, the station features three colour-coded cabinets for loose belongings one designated for each of the three trains. The operator's booth is also located on this platform.
_06.jpg)
A ride on Behemoth lasts approximately three minutes and ten seconds.
to the left and overlook the entire park to the right. The train drops from the peak at a 75-degree angle to reach the maximum speed of 127 km/h (78.9 mph) in 3.9 seconds. The drop creates an air-time
sensation for the duration of the descent.
to the left. The train descends from the height of the turn to travel up and over three more air-time hills. After the hills, the train climbs up a steep slope into the mid-course brake run
.
. Immediately following the first helix, the train climbs into an upward 270-degree helix to the left. Following the climb is a small descent and a final hill. The train climbs up from the final hill into the terminal brake run.
_05.jpg)
Behemoth is negatively affected by unfavourable weather conditions as both a high altitude and high velocity ride. "Rain, high winds, and/or lightning" may result in the closing of the ride depending on the severity. Behemoth will close in high winds, but may remain open in light rain.
There is no minimum age requirement, but passengers must meet the height requirement of 137 cm (54 inches) to ride. Some persons over a certain weight/waist size will not be permitted to ride if the seat and lapbar harness cannot accommodate them. Passengers on Behemoth may not bring any loose articles onto the train and will be required to wear shirts and footwear.
Passengers are advised that they must not ride Behemoth if they have "a history of recent surgery, heart trouble/high blood pressure, neck trouble, back trouble, or any other condition that may be aggravated by riding, or who are pregnant".
The unofficial Wonderland fan club, CWMania, is impressed with the ride and considers the experience to be the invocation of "a massive and powerful mythical beast," faithful to its namesake, the biblical Behemoth
. Behemoth has also attracted a following of marathon roller coaster enthusiasts whom park staff have regarded as "celebrities, by sight, if not by name."
Canada's Wonderland is aware that Behemoth has become their biggest attraction and capitalizes on the success by hosting special events for the ride (some of which have been exclusive), such as the annual Behemethon, an evening of uninterrupted access for members of CWMania.
, a newspaper published for the amusement industry. The rankings are selected by an international poll conducted by the newspaper. When Behemoth was completed in 2008, it ranked third as the best new ride of the year.
Steel roller coaster
A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world...
at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan
Vaughan, Ontario
Vaughan is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughan is the fastest growing municipality in Canada achieving a population growth rate of 80.2% between 1996–2006, according to Statistics Canada having nearly doubled in population since 1991. Vaughan is located in Southern...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is a Hyper Coaster designed and developed by Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard
Bolliger & Mabillard
Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president...
. Behemoth is currently the tallest and fastest roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
in Canada. However, in 2012, Leviathan
Leviathan (roller coaster)
Leviathan is a steel giga coaster currently under construction at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada It will be the first giga coaster made by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard. At long, tall, and with a top speed of , Leviathan will be the tallest and fastest coaster in Canada...
, also manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, will be built at the opposite end of Canada's Wonderland "stripping" Behemoth's tallest and fastest titles. The ride is similar to Diamondback
Diamondback (roller coaster)
Diamondback is a Bolliger & Mabillard steel hypercoaster located at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.The ride is long and spans from just behind International Street and the Eiffel Tower and over the Rivertown area, and into a wooded area. The roller coaster contains a splashdown element near the end...
(Kings Island
Kings Island
Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
), Goliath (La Ronde
La Ronde (amusement park)
La Ronde is an amusement park in Montreal, owned and operated by Six Flags. It is the largest in the province of Quebec and the second largest in Canada after Canada's Wonderland, with about 2.5 million guests in 2006...
) and Nitro
Nitro (roller coaster)
Nitro is a steel roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. It was opened in the spring of 2001 and at the time was the fastest roller coaster in New Jersey and the tallest on the East Coast of the United States.-The ride:...
(Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
).
After a year and a half of preparation and development, Behemoth premiered in May 2008. With its high speeds, tall heights and rapid changes in both direction and elevation, the attraction is one of the most aggressive thrill rides in the park. Behemoth also has a high hourly passenger throughput making it one of the most efficient rides in the park.
The ride features a prototype seating arrangement to ensure an unobstructed view for every rider a first for a roller coaster of this type. The Behemoth experience lasts for approximately three minutes and subjects the rider to a maximum speed of 125 km/h (77 mph) achieved in less than 3.9 seconds followed by five air-time
Air-time
Air time is the feeling of weightlessness or negative gravity force experienced on a roller coaster or other amusement rides. On roller coasters this feeling is usually achieved by the train going over a hill. Hypercoasters such as Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point and Bizarro at Six Flags New England...
hills, a hammerhead turn
Immelmann turn
The Immelmann turn refers to two different aircraft maneuvers.-In aerobatics:In modern aerobatical parlance, an Immelmann turn is an aerobatic maneuver of little practical use in aerial combat, and is a different maneuver altogether from the original dogfighting tactic of World War I from which it...
and two helix
Helix
A helix is a type of smooth space curve, i.e. a curve in three-dimensional space. It has the property that the tangent line at any point makes a constant angle with a fixed line called the axis. Examples of helixes are coil springs and the handrails of spiral staircases. A "filled-in" helix – for...
es.
Behemoth has been praised by critics and is the most popular attraction at Canada's Wonderland, as well as the flagship attraction.
On October 1, 2011, one of Behemoth's train vallied (the term given when a roller coaster stops in the middle of the course because of the loss of momentum) right before the mid-course-brake-run. On that day there were strong winds which played the main role for the loss of momentum. At the time, another train was making its way up the lift which stopped almost at the end of the lift for obvious safety reasons. There were no riders on both trains at the time.
Development
Behemoth was announced on August 27, 2007. The estimated C$Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
26 million ride represented the single biggest investment in the 27-year history of Canada's Wonderland. When completed, Behemoth became the 15th roller coaster at the park.
After 18 months of planning and construction, steel construction of the track and supports was completed on January 22, 2008. The ride was officially opened on April 24, 2008 for Media Day. On Season Pass Preview Night, the ride was open to season pass holders on April 25, 2008. Behemoth opened to the public on May 4, 2008.
Characteristics
Behemoth has a high throughput and will accommodate approximately 1545 passengers an hour, making it one of the most efficient roller coasters in the park.
Train
Behemoths three open-air steel and fiberglass trainsTrain (roller coaster)
A roller coaster train or car describes the vehicle which transports passengers around a roller coaster's circuit. More specifically, a roller coaster train is made up of two or more "cars" which are connected by some sort of specialized joint. It is called a "train" because the cars follow one...
feature a prototype v-shaped staggered seating arrangement to ensure an unobstructed view for every rider." This prototype design is a first for Bolliger & Mabillard roller coasters which was later reproduced for Diamondback
Diamondback (roller coaster)
Diamondback is a Bolliger & Mabillard steel hypercoaster located at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.The ride is long and spans from just behind International Street and the Eiffel Tower and over the Rivertown area, and into a wooded area. The roller coaster contains a splashdown element near the end...
at Kings Island
Kings Island
Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
. The trains are named Red Train, Orange Train, and Yellow Train, after their coloured fronts. Each of the trains comprise eight cars, seating four guests each for a total capacity of 32. Each passenger is seated in a bucket seat restrained by a lapbar harness; some persons over a certain weight/waist size cannot be accommodated by this arrangement.
Track
Station
A two-story sheltered station house contains the ride loading and unloading area. The ground floor of the station contains the maintenance area for the trains, equipped with Radiant Heaters.At the boarding area, the station features three colour-coded cabinets for loose belongings one designated for each of the three trains. The operator's booth is also located on this platform.
Gift shop
Unlike all of the park's other attractions, Behemoth has its own gift shop at the exit. The shop sells ride memorabilia and displays the photos taken during the ride.Experience
First drop
After departing the station, the train turns right and begins to slowly climb the lift hill through the use of a chain lift. After approximately thirty seconds, the maximum height of 70 meters is reached. From the top, a passenger can clearly see the iconic CN TowerCN Tower
The CN Tower is a communications and observation tower in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Standing tall, it was completed in 1976, becoming the world's tallest free-standing structure and world's tallest tower at the time. It held both records for 34 years until the completion of the Burj...
to the left and overlook the entire park to the right. The train drops from the peak at a 75-degree angle to reach the maximum speed of 127 km/h (78.9 mph) in 3.9 seconds. The drop creates an air-time
Air-time
Air time is the feeling of weightlessness or negative gravity force experienced on a roller coaster or other amusement rides. On roller coasters this feeling is usually achieved by the train going over a hill. Hypercoasters such as Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point and Bizarro at Six Flags New England...
sensation for the duration of the descent.
Air-time hills
At the base of the first drop, the train banks a few degrees to the right and climbs the first air-time hill and descends. Following this, the train climbs up to a hairpin 180-degree hammerhead turnImmelmann turn
The Immelmann turn refers to two different aircraft maneuvers.-In aerobatics:In modern aerobatical parlance, an Immelmann turn is an aerobatic maneuver of little practical use in aerial combat, and is a different maneuver altogether from the original dogfighting tactic of World War I from which it...
to the left. The train descends from the height of the turn to travel up and over three more air-time hills. After the hills, the train climbs up a steep slope into the mid-course brake run
Brake run
A brake run on a roller coaster is any section of track meant to slow or stop a roller coaster train. Brake runs may be located anywhere along the circuit of a coaster and may be designed to bring the train to a complete halt or to simply adjust the train's speed...
.
Helix pair
After the momentary reduction in speed, the train turns to the right and descends into a downward 540-degree helixHelix
A helix is a type of smooth space curve, i.e. a curve in three-dimensional space. It has the property that the tangent line at any point makes a constant angle with a fixed line called the axis. Examples of helixes are coil springs and the handrails of spiral staircases. A "filled-in" helix – for...
. Immediately following the first helix, the train climbs into an upward 270-degree helix to the left. Following the climb is a small descent and a final hill. The train climbs up from the final hill into the terminal brake run.
Disembarkment
The train waits at the terminal brake run until it is cleared for return by the station. The train proceeds forward and turns 180-degrees to the left to return to the station. At this point, the train passes directly above people waiting in the main queue below.Operation
There is no minimum age requirement, but passengers must meet the height requirement of 137 cm (54 inches) to ride. Some persons over a certain weight/waist size will not be permitted to ride if the seat and lapbar harness cannot accommodate them. Passengers on Behemoth may not bring any loose articles onto the train and will be required to wear shirts and footwear.
Passengers are advised that they must not ride Behemoth if they have "a history of recent surgery, heart trouble/high blood pressure, neck trouble, back trouble, or any other condition that may be aggravated by riding, or who are pregnant".
Reception
Behemoth is the most popular attraction at Canada's Wonderland and it has enjoyed a great deal of success since its establishment. The ride appeals to a wide demographic with park staff noting that both young children and senior citizens line up for the attraction.The unofficial Wonderland fan club, CWMania, is impressed with the ride and considers the experience to be the invocation of "a massive and powerful mythical beast," faithful to its namesake, the biblical Behemoth
Behemoth
Behemoth is a mythological beast mentioned in the Book of Job, 40:15-24. Metaphorically, the name has come to be used for any extremely large or powerful entity.-Plural as singular:...
. Behemoth has also attracted a following of marathon roller coaster enthusiasts whom park staff have regarded as "celebrities, by sight, if not by name."
Canada's Wonderland is aware that Behemoth has become their biggest attraction and capitalizes on the success by hosting special events for the ride (some of which have been exclusive), such as the annual Behemethon, an evening of uninterrupted access for members of CWMania.
Awards
The Golden Ticket Awards is an annual set of awards given out by Amusement TodayAmusement Today
Amusement Today is a monthly periodical featuring articles, news, pictures, and reviews about all things relating to the amusement park industry, including parks, rides, and ride manufacturers. The magazine, which is based in Arlington, Texas, USA, was founded in 1997 by Gary Slade and Virgil...
, a newspaper published for the amusement industry. The rankings are selected by an international poll conducted by the newspaper. When Behemoth was completed in 2008, it ranked third as the best new ride of the year.
| Golden Ticket Awards: Best Steel Coaster | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Ranking |
See also
- Hyper Coaster
- Canada's Wonderland
- List of roller coaster records
- LeviathanLeviathan (roller coaster)Leviathan is a steel giga coaster currently under construction at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada It will be the first giga coaster made by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard. At long, tall, and with a top speed of , Leviathan will be the tallest and fastest coaster in Canada...
(giga coaster built by the same manufacturer that will be completed in the same park in 2012)
