Yes, the technological ancestor of the modern roller coaster is widely attributed to 17th-century Russia. Known as "Russian Mountains" (Montagnes Russes), these were massive, ice-covered wooden slides built up to 70–80 feet high. Thrill-seekers would climb long ladders and sled down steep, 50-degree slopes on wooden runners, often reaching high speeds. The tradition was so popular that Catherine the Great had several built for her personal use, even ordering wheeled carts for the summer months so the fun could continue without ice. This "wheeled" adaptation is considered the prototype for the modern coaster. In the early 19th century, a French traveler brought the concept back to Paris, where the first "wheeled" track systems were developed. While the first official patents for modern mechanical roller coasters were filed in the United States in the late 19th century (such as the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway), the name for coasters in languages like French and Spanish literally translates to "Russian Mountains," honoring their icy origins in St. Petersburg.