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4 Crazy Over-the-Top Amusement Parks Around the World

Although amusement parks are believed to have existed in some form since the Middle Ages, it wasn’t until the Victorian Era that these fun and sometimes-freaky attractions began to really take off, thanks to the invention of rides such as roller coasters and the Ferris wheel. Two World Wars and the Great Depression saw the industry fall into decline in the first half of the 20th century -- but it was revived by the opening of Disneyland in the 1950s. In the decades that followed, more and more theme parks began opening up, each trying to one-up the last with more thrilling rides or more bedazzling attractions. Others went a separate route, basing their parks on bizarre themes ranging from cutesy to cheeky. So here, we bring you a list of four of the most over-the-top amusement parks overall around the world.

1. BonBon-Land, Denmark

When it comes to amusement parks, Denmark is best known for Tivoli Gardens, a whimsically vintage theme park across from Copenhagen's main train station. However, theme park aficionados and anyone with a taste for the whacky won't want to miss BonBon-Land, which forgoes fanciful carousels and marquee lighting in favor of freakish attractions that fall somewhere between comical and crass. This quarter-century-old park in the town of Holme Olstrup, a 45-minute drive outside of Copenhagen, was conceived by a local producer of gag candy (with saucy names such as "dog farts" and "seagull poo.") People naturally wanted to visit the factory -- Willy Wonka-style -- but hosting tours became too difficult due to food safety regulations. Instead, owner Michael Spangsberg decided to launch a theme park near the factory, with whacky attractions such as a dog fart-themed roller coaster and statues of vomiting and urinating cartoon animals.

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2. Sanrio Puroland, Japan

If you had an emotional reaction back in 2014 when Sanrio announced that Hello Kitty is not exactly a cat, you’ll love Sanrio Puroland in Tokyo, an indoor theme park devoted to the anthropomorphized superstar. This predominantly pink and undeniably cutesy attraction takes Kitty-mania to the next level, but overall the attractions here are more about frills than thrills. Highlights include the Lady Kitty House, the pink palatial residence of the Sanrio queen herself, where guests can see how the great non-cat spends her day-to-day life (and, if they're lucky, get a selfie with the celebrity). Other attractions include the slow "Hello Kitty in Wonderland," a 35-minute-long Sanrio-meets-Lewis Carroll ride in which Hello Kitty plays the role of Alice. Puroland also features an unsurprisingly large number of souvenir shops, restaurants, a gaming arcade, and lots and lots of Japan's beloved sticker-printing photo booths. There are also plenty of cutesy performances, though most require a basic understanding of the Japanese language to make any sense.

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3. Cedar Point, Ohio

Touting itself as the "Roller Coaster Capital of the World," Sandusky, Ohio's Cedar Point is most popular with die-hard thrill ride-lovers who'd rather forego costumed animals and cheesy animatronics in favor of pure adrenaline rushes. This lakeside attraction features some 72 rides, including 16 roller coasters and plenty more extreme thrill rides, though families with little ones need not despair: the park has plenty of the requisite mini-rides for those who fall short of most height requirements. The park's star attraction -- the Millennium Force -- is an enormous coaster with a maximum height of 310 feet (94.4 meters) and speeds of up to 93 mph (149 kph). Other popular rides include the Valravn -- with 90-degree drops and 270-degree rolls -- and the floorless Rougarou, the parks newest coaster.

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4. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

The United Arab Emirates like their hotels, malls, and attractions big and bold -- and the gargantuan Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is no exception. Opened in 2010 on the city's Yas Island, this Ferrari-themed attraction is the world's largest indoor amusement park. While most of the park’s features center on sports cars, travelers need not be obsessed with the famed Italian manufacturer in order to enjoy the park. Attractions are plentiful and include -- unsurprisingly -- lots of car-based racing rides, including slow (by Ferrari standards) rides for toddlers. There are also a few excellent roller coasters, some that reach speeds of 240 kph (150 mph), plus plenty of live performances, but don't expect colorful animals performing staid song-and-dance numbers. Instead, you're more likely to find hybrid thrill shows featuring acrobatics, dancing, and BMX bikes, a comedy show about changing tires, and a multimedia spectacle all about Ferrari.

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