We humans tend to live a very routine lifestyle. Tedious, repetitive, predictable – we know what we are going to be doing every day of the week. We forget that spontaneity is important. There is no good reason why “everyday” events such as simply riding an elevator cannot provide an exciting thrill. So if you’re one of the lucky few that don’t suffer from a fear of heights, then you’ll be afforded a variety of adrenaline-filled experiences on these fascinating elevators around the globe:
The Rising Tide Elevator
The world’s largest cruise ship, the MS Oasis of the Seas, holds claim to the only bar-elevator in the world. The Rising Tide Elevator is a slow-moving lift that moves between the Royal Promenade on deck 5 and the Central Park on deck 8. It holds 35 patrons at one time and climbs the 2 storeys in a leisurely 8 minutes, allowing enough time to enjoy a cocktail.
The Gateway Arch Elevator, Missouri
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is the centrepiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and reflects the town’s role in the Westward Expansion of the United States in the 19th century. Situated on the bank of the Mississippi River, the arch stands 192m tall – the tallest man-made monument in the United States. To get to the top, groups of 5 people enter egg-shaped, seated train compartments. Two trains disembark from each leg every 10 minutes, and rotate periodically by 5˚, keeping them upright while moving up the arch’s curved tracks. The trip takes 4 minutes on the way up and 3 minutes down. It took over 2 years to build and cost $13 million at the time (which would be approximately $95 900 000 in 2012).
Maritime Museum Birdcage Elevator, Canada
At the Maritime Museum of British Columbia, you can see the oldest operating Birdcage Elevator in North America. Constructed in 1899, it was originally intended for use of the second Chief Justice, Theodore Davie, but he passed away before he could use it. Known for numerous ghost stories, you can step inside the lift with its decorative grillwork and experience the ghostly wonder for yourself.
Bailong Elevator, China
The Bailong Elevator, meaning “Hundred Dragons” is a glass lift built into the side of a cliff-face in the Zhangjijie National Park. The journey reaches a staggering height of 326m and can accommodate 50 people per 2 minute ride. From the top, you are afforded views of the spectacular natural surroundings and quartzite sandstone pillars. It’s claimed to be one of the highest and heaviest elevators in the world, setting 3 Guinness World Records for the “world’s tallest full-exposure outdoor elevator”, the “world’s tallest double-deck sightseeing elevator” and the “world’s fastest passenger traffic elevator with the biggest carrying capacity”. However, the future of the lift is uncertain as it has a detrimental effect on the environment.
Paternoster Lift, Europe and Scandinavia
This lift concept was first invented in 1884 by London engineering firm, J.E Hall, as the “Cyclic Elevator”. The name “paternoster” meaning “our father” from the Lord’s Prayer, was applied to the lift because it forms a loop shape that represents rosary beads used in prayers. It consists of a series of open compartments (each holding 2 people) that spin continually in a loop inside a building. It moves very slowly – approximately 0.3m a second to make it easier to depart from the elevator while it is still in motion. Today, the construction of paternoster lifts is illegal in many countries due to a number of deaths caused by people tripping while entering or exiting the lifts. There are still paternosters around Europe and Scandinavia, but the Pasáž Lucerna, located in a mall in Prague, is popular.
Taipei 101 Elevator
The 101 storey building of Taipei 101 is one of the world’s tallest buildings at 508m tall. The building houses 67 elevators, two of which service the observation decks which are the second fastest in the world. These double-decker lifts open onto two floors simultaneously. The record-breaking lifts run at a speed of 1 010m a minute when ascending and 600m a minute on the way down – you’ll find yourself swept from the 5th floor to the 89th in just 37 seconds! It also has the world’s first pressure control system which adjusts the atmospheric pressure inside the elevator so you won’t experience “ear popping”.
Who knew that riding an elevator could be such fun? Keep your eyes peeled for World’s Weirdest Elevators Part 2 coming soon!
