Russian Mountains

rdf:langString Russian Mountains

rdf:langString Russian Mountains were a predecessor to the roller coaster in which the term is adopted by several Romance languages in other parts of Europe. The earliest roller coasters were descended from Russian winter sled rides held on specially constructed hills of ice, sometimes up to 60 m (200 feet) tall. Known from the 17th century, the slides were built to a height of between 21 to 24 m (70 to 80 feet), had a 50-degree initial slope, and were reinforced by wooden supports. In the 18th century they were especially popular in St. Petersburg and surroundings, from where their usage and popularity spread to the rest of Europe. Sometimes wheeled carts were used instead of tracks, like in the Katalnaya Gorka built in Catherine II's residence in Oranienbaum. By the late 18th century, their popularity was such that entrepreneurs elsewhere began copying the idea, using wheeled cars built on tracks. The first such wheeled ride was brought to Paris in 1804 under the name Les Montagnes Russes (French for "Russian Mountains").