Zumanjaro: 'Drop of Doom' breaks world record

Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom stands 415 feet high and is not for the faint-hearted. Credit: Six Flags Great Adventure

A thrilling theme park ride in the United States has broken the existing world record to become the 'tallest and fastest' drop ride on the planet.

Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom stands 415 feet high - taller than the Statue of Liberty - and on a clear day riders can see skyscrapers in Philadelphia, 52 miles away.

The attraction was built at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the park.

Three gondolas drop 24 riders a time at exhilarating speeds of up to 90 miles per hour and riders experience a free fall sensation, as they plummet earthwards.

The ride is built on the face of Kingda Ka - the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster - and is African-themed, in keeping with the rest of the theme park it is housed in.

Riders will experience fleeting seconds of freefall as they plummet earthwards. Credit: Six Flags Great Adventure

It was hoped that the ride would be open Memorial Day weekend but construction work was delayed by a combination of high winds, snow and cold.