London happens to be a city which is known for its numerous tourist destinations, ranging from various parks and monuments to the pop up displays of artists and performers on the South Bank in the summer. But perhaps of all the places that you will get to visit, there happens to be one attraction that you must see before leaving, and this is referred to as the London Eye. This is a giant one hundred and thirty five meter tall Ferris wheel which is situated along the banks of River Thames. Its significance emanates from the fact that it happens to be the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and it has an annual tourist visits topping three million people.

It was first erected in 1999 and it was by then the tallest in the world until 2006 when another one was erected in Nanchang, China. The most interesting thing about it, is the fact that it happens to be supported by an a frame on the sides only, thus making it the world’s tallest observation wheel which is cantilevered. With a total of thirty-two egg shaped passenger capsules which are air conditioned, this is truly a sight to behold, and worth noting is the fact that each capsule has a carrying capacity of twenty five people.

The wheel rotates at twenty six centimeters per second, and another interesting thing about it is that it never stops to either allow passengers to board the capsules or even disembark. It is usually slow enough, to the extent that people can alight and get on it. The only time that it is usually stopped is when there happens to be an elderly or disabled person willing to board. Tie rods support the rim of this eye, and it assumes the look of a huge bicycle wheel. Its lighting is through LED and as such there happens to be some digital control over them.

So if you are in London give the London Eye a visit you my find that you will be getting on again and again.