The Americas



The theme park SeaWorld in Orlando will soon open its ‘hypercoaster’ – after installing the final piece of what will be the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in the city when it is complete.

Named the Mako coaster, after the fastest shark in the ocean, the ride is 4,760 feet long, with 200-foot drops and speeds of 73mph. It is part of a two-acre area of the park which is entirely themed around sharks and designed to make guests feel like they are underwater.

According to SeaWorld Orlanda, the new coaster will “become one of the world’s few true hypercoasters, a group of roller coasters known for high speeds and steep drops and hills that create a feeling of weightlessness or ‘air time.’ As the sleek coaster cars crest each hill, riders float, nearly weightless”.

The coaster will open this summer.

While an incredibly popular theme park, SeaWorld is not without controversy. Many animal welfare groups and people are opposed to their live shows featuring trained dolphin, sea lions and killer whales – an issue that has been increasingly in the public eye since the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which shows the negative impact of keeping killer whales in captivity. SeaWorld has responded that the makers of the film gave false and misleading information, and has made plans to double the size of its tanks, as well as an announcement in November that the company will end orca shows at its San Diego location in 2017.

Read more: SeaWorld plans for bigger tanks in San Diego

SeaWorld to end San Diego orca shows in 2017