From single rails to virtual reality, roller coasters have been thrilling people for centuries. Their origins can be traced back to 17th-century Russia, where wooden slides—"Russian Mountains"—provided seasonal entertainment. The first roller coaster was built in early 19th-century Paris, France. Called "Les Montagnes Russes à Belleville," it featured wheeled carts securely attached to tracks. By the 1900s, coasters were looping the loop for the first time.
International Roller Coaster Day
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Pont dArcole over the Seine river, Paris, France
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End of American Wetlands Month
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National Park Week: Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii
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A hero for the 21st century
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Where do those colors come from?
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Celebrating the Acadians
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The crossroads of empires
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Paper lanterns on the longest night
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Happy Thanksgiving
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Road to Hana, Maui, Hawaii
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St. Patricks Day
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The eloquence of elephants
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A day for the dolphins
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Oh, the places you’ll go
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Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
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Fin whales: A success story
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Pumpkin patch
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Wildebeests in Maasai Mara, Kenya
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Mardi Gras
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Eurasian lynx
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A march toward a dream
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Red lechwe, Okavango Delta, Botswana
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Don’t get lost in there
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Bridges to the past
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Carnival comes to Olinda
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Huntington Beach Pier, California, at sunset
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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Meet the slowest flirt in the animal world
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US Coast Guard: Protecting us for 105 years
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Sunrise at Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

