RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- The largest ferris wheel in Latin America was opened here on Friday.
The 88-meter-tall Rio Star is located near the city's aquarium and two new museums, in a port district neighborhood renovated for the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.
The Rio Star has attracted a lot of tourists despite rain on the opening day, and over 5,000 tickets have already been sold for the attraction, organizers said.
From the top of the Rio Star, tourists can enjoy views of most of the city's famous landmarks, including the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, Sugarloaf Mountain, the Sambadrome and the Maracana stadium.
There are 54 cabins on the ferris wheel, each with a capacity for six people. The ride takes 18-20 minutes, and all cabins are fitted with air conditioning.
With tickets selling at 12 U.S. dollars to Rio residents and 17 dollars for tourists, the Rio Star is expected to become a major tourist attraction.
Organizers are considering the possibility of offering combo tickets for both the Rio Star and the nearby aquarium to attract even more visitors.
