The London Eye Ferris Wheel

One of the most visited places in London is the London Eye. It is actually a Ferris wheel, the biggest of its kind in Europe and was the biggest wheel in the world when it opened in 1999. Currently known with the official name The Merlin Entertainments London Eye, it is also called the Millenium Wheel since it was opened at the start of the 20th century. The Eye stands 135 feet above the waters of the river Thames. From the eye, you can view other popular tourist attractions such as the Westminster Bridge, Hungerford Bridge and the Houses of Parliament. It is considered one of the most significant structures in the world that puts the British flag in history once again.


The Ferris wheel was so big that it took weeks for it to be raised in its upward position. The Eye looks like a big bicycle wheel from a distance and weighs around 1800 tons. There are 32 passenger capsules weighing almost ten tons and are attached to the circumference of the wheel. The egg-shaped capsules are air conditioned and are big enough to accommodate 25 persons who can roam around the capsule, although there are also seats provided. The diameter is so wide that it takes around thirty minutes to complete one revolution. The wheel does not normally stop to take in new passengers but sometimes it does to accommodate elderly and disabled persons to safely embark and disembark.

London Eye was designed by architects David Marks and Julia Barfield, Nic Bailey, Malcolm Cook, Steven Chilton, Mark Sparrowhawk, and Frank Anatole. It was officially opened by then British Prime Minister Tony Blair on December 31, 1999 but due to technical problems it was not made public until March of 2000. It was originally owned by the British Airways, the Tussauds Group and the architects Marks and Barnfield family and was bought by Merlin Entertainments in 2007. The London eye changed its name to its current official name The Merlin Entertainments London Eye in 2009.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4390395

The Inspiring True Story Behind the Ferris Wheel

Almost everyone has probably taken a ride on a Ferris wheel and if you were like me still remembers the experience eons after the ride. The Ferris wheel is an American invention and behind its invention lays a fascinating story that will inspire everyone. A story that involves the application of several fundamental principles of success. In this article I will outline the key success principles that lead its inventor, a 33 year old man named George Ferris, to create the Ferris wheel.

Optimism & Ambition

It was said of George that even in the darkest times, he was ever looking for the sunshine to come. A quality that was to come in handy at the most important turning point in his life. George was also ambitious and competitive. Growing up in mid 19th century America the emerging industrial landscape proved to be a fertile ground for his talents.

By the time he was 24 he had worked on the construction of the Henderson Bridge, at that time the longest trestle span in the world. By age 26 he had founded his own company. By his early 30's he had major offices in several important cities, NYC, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. That was when his company secured a contract for the 1893 World's Colombian Exposition, a fair. An occasion that was to become the turning point in his life.

Rising To The Challenge

Ferris's initial work for the exposition was less than acceptable to Daniel H Burnham, architect and head of the exposition committee. Happening just a few years after the Paris's exposition and its Eiffel tower Daniel was smarting for an American response to the French engineering marvel.

Burnham threw a challenge "Make no small plans; they have no magic to stir men's minds". George Ferris took it on.

Courage Of Conviction

George's response to the challenge was to build an enormous revolving wheel, higher than Chicago's tallest building. It would carry 2000 people at a time and weigh 1,200 tons. A contraption never before seen. A contraption that was enormous even by today's standards.

At first people ridiculed his idea and made fun of him. They called him a wild man. Soon George acquired the nickname "the man with wheels in his head."

But George stood by his conviction to build a wheel that the world had never seen before. The Ferris wheel was completed on time and under budget. As promised by him, it turned out to be the highlight of the exposition drawing people from far and near.

The Importance of Relationships

A significant reason for George's success was his ability to develop and sustain deep relationships with people. Said an acquaintance of him, "George was eminently engaging and social, a storyteller who often amused his friends with anecdotes."

George did not have the luxury of a long lead time to build the Ferris wheel. Yet he not only managed to acquire the key building material for the wheel, steel, by relying on his industry connections he managed to successfully sell his idea of a giant revolving wheel and get it built.

The Ferris wheel has proved to be an enduring success. It continues to thrill riders and inspires many to build bigger and more daring wheels, from the London Eye to the world's largest Ferris wheel, the Great Wheel of China in Beijing.

An inspiring and enduring personal story built on fundamental and permanent principles of life.

Check out my handpicked collection of self help books on the subjects of personal and career development.

Subscribers to my site receive an email approximately once a week containing an eBook and a brief blurb on why you should read it. The collection of ebooks includes well known names such as Jim Rohn, Tom Peters, Seth Godin, Napolean Hill, Jay Abraham, James Allen and many many more.

Subscription is just a buck. As a bonus you will receive 'True Stories of Personal Achievement' and Napolean Hill's epic classic 'Think & Grow Rich'

If a buck is too much to pay then check out my blog for articles and strategies on personal/career and business development. It is free.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3795158

Obtaining A Mini Ferris Wheel Ride Within Your Park

Even though many people examine mini Ferris Wheel rides if they are building their park this could be a huge mistake that could cost park owners a huge amount of money each year. This is because these rides are exceedingly favored by children an their parents and provide a feeling of nostalgia together with them. Consequently individuals are more willing to return to a park which has rides they remember from the childhood which will permit them to share time making use of their children while re-living their old memories. Another benefit is this ride is often a lot less scary than other rides of the identical size but helps youngsters seem like these are grown-up.


Every single child will react differently if they are come to a park of any kind, but many may wish to seem like they may be grown-up and able to do items that their only siblings or another kids which they know can do. In just a park setting they may often watch other kids hop on larger rides whilst they are stuck on small rides that are simple to get tired with after some time. This really is made worse each time a child barely misses on a height requirement to ride larger rides and feels put aside by their peers. However, when there are actually rides that look like larger however are still safe for them everyone is able to be happy.


Parents would also like to make sure that their younger kids are kept safer than their older kids. Children are notoriously clumsy and definately will often end up in bad situations if they are not watched carefully. This will make it difficult to let them go onto rides where a parent can't join them, that might go at a high speed, or where it is actually impossible to watch the child without difficulty. For that reason parks needs to have rides that focus on the requirements parents and kids to make sure that everyone leaves happy and it has a safe and secure time as well.

Overall parents will choose rides that suit in their values and that mirror experiences that they have already had with their lives. If they believe that something isn't safe they will avoid it and steer their children towards something diffrent which may catch their attention. This will make it essential to contemplate the requirements the mother and father when attemping to develop a play area for children. This too helps take a number of the burden off over-worked parents who would just like their children to get a good time as they are saved to a far needed break from work or home.

Eventually, deciding to put in a mini Ferris Wheel ride inside your amusement park can be one of many smartest decisions that you just make. You are going to show parents that your park can be a place they can enjoy making use of their kids and you may show kids that you understand what they need too.