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<p>Loop, curve, and climb up to nearly 69 feet on the walkable roller coaster, <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tiger-turtle-walking-roller-coaster" target="_blank">Tiger & Turtle Magic Mountain</a>. Even with the epic loops closed off by a barrier to the public, the art installation’s twisted metal staircase gives amusement park lovers a new perspective on the classic and exhilarating ride. With 249 steps making up the walkway, visitors can catch striking views of the Rhine, and at night, the handrails are illuminated with LED lights.</p>
Duisburg, Germany
Loop, curve, and climb up to nearly 69 feet on the walkable roller coaster, Tiger & Turtle Magic Mountain. Even with the epic loops closed off by a barrier to the public, the art installation’s twisted metal staircase gives amusement park lovers a new perspective on the classic and exhilarating ride. With 249 steps making up the walkway, visitors can catch striking views of the Rhine, and at night, the handrails are illuminated with LED lights.
Photograph by Esther Dauben, National Geographic Your Shot
Discover 21 of the world’s most spectacular staircases
These staircases aren’t just a means of movement—they’re dramatic works of art.
ByStarlight Williams
Published March 25, 2019
• 2 min read
A practical creation that transports you from one destination to the next, stairs rarely garner much attention beyond being cumbersome to climb. But staircases are one of the oldest architectural creations, dating to the second millennium B.C. Ancient steps provided strategic ways to traverse rough terrain, and some believed they connected Earth to the heavens.
But artists and designers throughout the ages have transformed stairs beyond mere functionality. With towering spirals, daring designs, and classic ornaments, staircases have become statement pieces and dramatic works of art that are destinations in their own right. (See 24 unconventional art destinations around the world)
Members of our Your Shot photography community captured the dramatic beauty of staircases around the world. Join the Your Shot community to share a photo of somewhere that's meaningful to you.
Starlight Williams is an editorial researcher and writer at National Geographic. Follow her on Twitter @star_lightw and Instagram @starlightwilliams.
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