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Fireworks rise above the new $1.5 million solar powered Ferris wheel, replacing the Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel that was auctioned off on eBay for $132,400 in April, on its opening night at Pacific Park amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier on May 28, 2008 in Santa Monica, California. The old 90-foot tall Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel appeared in 105 photo shoots, 71 television commercials, 69 television shows, 28 films and 13 music videos and carried more than 3 million riders130 feet above the ocean on its 20 gondolas over the past 12 years. Like its predecessor, the world's first solar-powered, it will be powered by the sun but the new wheel, with its160,000 lights, will be 75 percent more energy efficient.

| May 29th 2008 4:34PM

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