14 Totally Terrifying Roller Coasters Around The World

Outlandish loops, tummy-turning drops and wicked-fast speeds; these are just a few of the thrilling features that characterize some of the world's most terrifying roller coasters.

Sure, there's the excitement of adventurous endeavors like white water rafting, backcountry hiking and downhill skiing, but these monstrous, man-made coasters offer a certain type of thrill that Mother Nature just doesn't possess.

Plus, roller coasters are each unique in their own heart-pounding, turn-you-upside-down way. For example, rides characterized as "giga" coasters reach a range of 300 to 399-feet tall, and "dive" coasters are known for their free-fall-like, 90-degree drops. Aside from say, BASE jumping off one of the world's tallest buildings, there's almost nothing else in the world like riding one of these truly chilling scream machines.

Are you ready for a wild ride? These extreme theme park attractions are some of the fastest, tallest, steepest and, yes, most terrifying roller coasters in the world.

Claim to Fame: One of the first wing coasters launched in the U.S., tallest vertical loop on a wing coaster.
Stats: 140-feet tall, goes from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds
holidayworld.com

Claim to Fame: World's longest steel coaster, world's sixth tallest steel coaster, world's fifth longest steel coaster drop, world's sixth fastest steel coaster
Stats: 318-feet tall, 307-foot, 65-degree drop, reaches up to 95 miles per hour
nagashima-onsen.co.jp

Claim to Fame: World's tallest and fastest "giga" coaster; at 325-feet tall, it's 20 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty
Stats: Reaches up to 95 miles per hour, 81-degree drop
carowinds.com

Claim to Fame: World's fastest "dive" coaster
Stats: 205-feet tall, reaches up to 75 miles per hour, 90-degree drop
seaworldparks.com

Claim to Fame: World's tallest steel coaster, world's longest steel coaster drop, world's second fastest coaster
Stats: 456-feet tall, reaches up to 128 miles per hour, 418-foot, 90-degree drop
sixflags.com

Claim to Fame: World's fastest roller coaster, world's sixth longest steel coaster, riders must wear protective eyewear
Stats: 171-feet tall, reaches up to 149 miles per hour in under five seconds
ferrariworldabudhabi.com

Claim to Fame: World's tallest and fastest inverted coaster
Stats: 215-feet tall, reaches up to 72 miles per hour
cedarpoint.com

Claim to Fame: World's steepest coaster
Stats: 141-feet tall, 121-degree drop, reaches up to 62 miles per hour
fujiq.jp

Claim to Fame: Not the tallest or fastest coaster, but certainly one of the world's most unique. Mother Nature Network reporter Starre Vartan made note of Sky Screams' "odd combinations" featuring upward and downward vertical twists and "360-degree horizontal twists."
Stats: 150-feet tall, reaches up to 62 miles per hour
plopsa.be

Claim to Fame: World's second tallest coaster inversion and the world's tallest vertical loop
Stats: 160-foot tall vertical loop (highest height), reaches up to 70 miles per hour
sixflags.com

Claim to Fame: One of the top 10 tallest steel roller coasters in the world and one of the tallest rides at Kings Dominion.
Stats: 305-feet tall, 85-degree drop, reaches up to 90 miles per hour
kingsdominion.com

Claim to Fame: One of the world's first ever vertical drop coasters, third fastest coaster in the UK
Stats: 180-foot, 87-degree drop, reaches up to 68 miles per hour
altontowers.com

Claim to Fame: Steepest coaster drop in Europe, fourth steepest coaster drop in the world
Stats: 96-foot, 113-degree drop, reaches up to 41 miles per hour
fraispertuis-city.fr

Claim to Fame: World's fourth tallest steel coaster, world's third longest steel coaster drop, world's fifth fastest steel coaster
Stats: 377-feet tall, 328-foot drop, reaches up to 100 miles per hour
dreamworld.com.au