"The Slide" Opens Today at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Today opens the tunnel slide simply named “The Slide” at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which leads in twelve circles around the 115 meter observation tower ArcelorMittal Orbit (cf. EAP news from August 31st, 2016). According to the park, “The Slide” is the longest of its kind in the world until to date with a total length of 178 meters, beginning at a height of 78 meters. Visitors of the viewing platform can take this way to “come down to earth” in approx. 38 until 40 seconds – as an alternative of the common lift or staircase. The tunnel slide was developed by the artist Carsten Höller in cooporation with the company Josef Wiegand GmbH & Co. KG and features several highlights such as a specially curved and tight part of the track with the German name “Bettfeder” (En.: “Bedspring”) as well as a steep part at the end of the track so that sliders nearly arrive in free fall to the ground. Furthermore, “The Slide” is no “black hole” but offers adrenaline junkies a spectacular view of the London skyline instead. (eap)
