We recently spoke with roller coaster architect Bill Kitchen, founder of U.S. Thrill Rides, about his experience building the Polercoaster (also known as The Skyscraper in Orlando, Fla.), which will be the tallest roller coaster in the world.

Today, we highlight five of the world's most amazing roller coasters:

World's Tallest Roller Coaster Inversion

GateKeeper at Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio

One of the 12 roller coasters at Cedar Point, known as the Roller Coaster Capital of the World, the GateKeeper holds seven world records. The winged coaster takes riders over 4,164 feet in just over two minutes. From the 170-foot high point, riders are turned upside down before plummeting toward the ground at speeds reaching 67 mph!

World's Longest Hybrid Roller Coaster

Twisted Colossus at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Los Angeles, California The Twisted Colossus opened in May 2015 and is an update of the park's beloved Colossus wooden coaster, which ran for 36 years. This new evolution added a state-of-the art track to the historic structure, creating an entirely new experience. One fun feature is the Top Gun Stall, an inversion where the train slows down while riders are upside down. Another is the High Five, where two trains pass through an overbanked turn while facing each other, giving riders the illusion they can reach out and “high five” other riders.

Wooden Coaster With Most Inversions

Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri

This Western-themed coaster twists upside down three times in 90 seconds. Outlaw Run also has the world's only double-barrel roll on a wooden coaster and a 107-foot (10 story) lift, leading to a drop of a whopping 162 feet (16 stories). In addition, it is the second-fastest wooden coaster in the world, with speeds reaching 68 miles per hour.

Longest Roller Coaster

Steel Dragon 2000, Nagashima Spa Land, Nagashima, Japan

At 8,133 feet long and spanning the length of the park, the Steel Dragon coaster holds the world's record for longest coaster. According to Time, it cost $50 million to build this ride, which required more steel than most other roller coasters because of the need for earthquake protection. 

Biggest Drop

Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, New Jersey

In the first 3.5 seconds on this ride you'll go from 0 to 128 miles per hour, and if that isn't enough, Kingda Ka has more to come. Be prepared to fly 90 degrees straight up to the top, to a whopping 456 feet high (45 stories) and then come back down again in a spiraling 270-degree drop. When you finish the ride — in less than a minute — you'll have traveled 3,118 feet. And then you can decide if you want to do it all again.