The Ferris wheel stands as a beloved attraction, frequently encountered in amusement parks and serving as a viewing platform for a myriad of events.

The wheel-shaped mechanical structure has gondolas hanging from the edge for passengers to take a seat and slowly spin upwards, allowing them to enjoy the scenic view from above.

George Washington Ferris, an American engineer, designed the first Ferris wheel in 1893 for the Columbian Memorial Exposition in Chicago.

It was built to compete with the Paris Tower that was constructed for the 1889 Exposition in Paris. Weighing 2,200 tons, the Ferris wheel could seat 2,160 people and was as tall as a 26-storey building.

Due to its revolutionary design, the attraction was named after its creator and became known as the Ferris wheel.

The Vienna Flyer is the only surviving 19th-century Ferris wheel still in operation today. It was built in 1897 in Vienna, Austria, at the Prater amusement park for the golden jubilee celebrations of Emperor Franz Josef.

After the demolition of the Paris Flyer in 1920, the Vienna Flyer became the tallest Ferris wheel in the world. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by fire in 1944 but was rebuilt a year later.

The Vienna Flyer remained the world's tallest Ferris wheel until 1985 when the city of Tsukuba in Japan built a taller one, standing at 85 meters high.

The BA London Eye, located on the banks of the River Thames, was the world's tallest Ferris wheel for some time. With a height of 135 meters, it was the pioneer in the design of the observation wheel genre.

However, its status as the world's tallest was surpassed by the Nanchang Star in China, a gravity-fed Ferris wheel that stands at 160 metres in total height.

The Singapore Flyer opened in March 2008 and took the top spot with its 165-meter total height and 150-meter wheel diameter.

However, due to its different structural concept, the Nanchang Star remains the world's highest gravity-fed Ferris wheel until a new challenger emerges.

Several Ferris wheel projects are in the pipeline that will challenge for the title of the world's tallest. Beijing's Chaotian Wheel is a good example, and it is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2009.

With a height of 208 meters and a diameter of 198 meters, it will use the same observation wheel structure as the London Eye.

In summary, the Ferris wheel is a popular amusement park ride and viewing platform, with a rich history dating back to the late 19th century.

From its humble beginnings in Chicago to the current tallest Ferris wheel in Singapore, these attractions have continued to evolve and push the limits of engineering and design.

As technology continues to advance, it is only a matter of time before a new Ferris wheel emerges to take the title of the world's tallest.