Images of Austria:The Riesenrad in Vienna is an iconic symbol of the Austrian capital. The nearly 65 meter-tall Ferris Wheel is located in the Prater amusement park in the Leopoldstadt district of town. It was constructed in 1887 by an English engineer, Walter Bassett. Built in 1897 it was constructed to celebrate the 50th golden jubilee anniversary of Emperor Franz Joseph I's accession to the throne.Standing at 64.75 meters (212 feet) tall, it was the tallest Ferris wheel in the entire world from 1920 until 1985 no less.
The wheel suffered severe fire damage in 1944 that burned down almost all of its original 30 wooden and steel cabins. It was rebuilt alongside other major national treasures like St. Stephen's Cathedral and reopened with 15 reconstructed cabins in 1947.
The attraction gained global cinematic fame as the setting for the famous tense dialogue scenes in the classic 1949 film The Third Man.
Ferris Wheel Riesenrad Prater Vienna
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