Steel Dragon 2000, Nagashima Spa Land
The Steel Dragon, the longest rollercoaster in the world at 8133 feet, is located at Nagashima Spa Land. You'll be trembling in fear as you ascend the first hill for one minute. Steel Dragon was constructed by D. H. Morgan Manufacturing and unveiled to the public on August 1, 2000. It gets its name from the Chinese zodiac and astronomy, where the year 2000 is symbolized by the dragon. With a track length of 2,479 meters (8,133 feet), it set multiple world records upon its opening. It is now the highest and fastest complete-circuit coaster in the world.
The track turns right onto the lift hill as it leaves the station. The lift hill's length necessitates the use of two chains, each powered by a separate engine. The course descends 307 feet (94 meters) to the ground from the lift hill's summit before ascending a 252 foot (77 meter) tall airtime hill. Following this hill, the track ascends over another one that is 210 feet high before descending to the right into two helixes, the first of which is counterclockwise and the second of which is clockwise. The track turns left into the midcourse brakes, which begin the return journey, after navigating past the first helix's and third hill's supports.
Before reaching the last braking run at the base of the lift hill on the return journey, a series of airtime hills parallel to the outward track are encountered. Trains departing from the brake run travel via the storage area and transfer track before turning sharply to the left to return to the station.
Location: Nagashima Spa Land, Mie Prefecture, Japan
