Grande roue de Montréal facts for kids
La Grande roue de Montréal
illuminated at night |
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| Coordinates | 45°30′31″N 73°32′55″W / 45.5085°N 73.5486°W |
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| Location | Montreal, Canada |
| Type | Ferris wheel |
| Height | 60 metres (200 ft) |
| Opening date | 2017 |
La Grande roue de Montréal is a Ferris wheel built at the Old Port of Montreal for the festivities for the 375th anniversary of the city. Open to the public since 1 September 2017, it is the tallest Ferris wheel in Canada.
Operation
The construction cost of La Grande roue de Montréal, C$28,000,000, was paid by private investors, and it is operated by La Grande Roue de Montréal Incorporée. Located on Bonsecours Basin Island in the Old Port of Montreal, it is open to the public daily from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and admittance allows for 20 minutes of use.
Design and conception
La Grande roue de Montréal is a Ferris wheel model WS60 (White Series 60 metres) from the Dutch Wheels company (Vekoma group). It is the fourth of the type installed worldwide following ones in Hong Kong (2014), Baku (2014), and Chicago (2016).
With a height of 60 metres (200 ft), it has 42 passenger units attached to its outer circumference. Each unit can fit 8 persons and are accessible for a total capacity of 336 passengers. Climate-controlled cabins and the use of steel graded for use at −40 °C (−40 °F) allows for the wheel to operate year-round.
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La Grande roue being constructed.
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Installation of passenger units on the wheel
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Detail of the drive system
The axis of the wheel is anchored on anti-seismic foundations that allow it to withstand winds of 240 kilometres per hour (150 mph). The wheel is driven by four pairs of electric motors controlled by a variable-frequency drive.
Panorama
La Grande roue de Montréal provides a 360° view of the city, including Old Montreal, its historic buildings, Place Jacques-Cartier, and the architecture of Downtown Montreal with Mont Royal as the backdrop. To the south, the Saint Lawrence River and its seaway unfolds. In the middle of the river, Saint Helen's Island and Notre Dame Island are seen – which were the sites for Expo 67. In the evening Mont Royal can no longer be seen; however, the Mount Royal Cross is illuminated, and accompanies the changing lighting on Jacques-Cartier Bridge.
