Roue De Paris
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Roue_De_Paris_(Geleen).jpg
The Roue De Paris is a giant transportable ferris wheel, originally installed in Paris for the 2000 millennium celebrations. It needs no permanent foundations, because it uses water ballast tanks to provide a stable base. In 2003 it was re-errected in Birmingham, where it remained in service until the end of February 2004.
The wheel is 60 metres (197 feet) high and uses 40,000 litres of water ballast.
In its new location the wheel was officially known as The Wheel Of Birmingham, but the individual cars still bore the name Roue De Paris. Furthermore, there was virtually global press interest in the fact that a recorded commentary identifying the sites of Paris was still being played to Birmingham passengers, although this was soon turned off.
For Christmas 2004, the wheel was re-erected in Manchester. The owners, World Tourist Attractions Ltd, put up a new and improved wheel on the Birmingham site.