A river rapids ride (or river rafting ride) is an amusement ride that simulates whitewater rafting.

Piraña at Efteling in the Netherlands

History

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The river rapids ride concept was proposed by Bill Crandall (general manager of AstroWorld in Houston) and developed by Intamin. AstroWorld introduced the world's first river rapids ride, Thunder River, in 1980 and popularized a concept which can now be found at most major amusement parks. Despite being an incredibly popular attraction, AstroWorld's Thunder River (being a prototype) was initially plagued by issues that were corrected in the first few seasons of operation. The boat bumpers were re-designed, portions of the wide river channel were narrowed or barricaded to prevent boats from bottle-necking or getting caught in a backflow, and a planned whirlpool effect was scrapped.

Construction

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Many modern river rapids rides feature a much narrower river channel as well as smaller boats (6 seats as opposed to 12 seats). Some are heavily themed, while others may present a natural setting for added realism. Multiple manufacturers have introduced new elements to the rapids ride concept: a vertical lift system, shoot the chute-style drops, and a whirlpool feature.

River rapids rides feature circular rafts with two main components: the fiberglass body in which passengers are seated and the rubber ring upon which the body is secured. The rubber ring provides buoyancy as well as shock absorption for when rafts collide with an obstacle during the course of the ride or with each other. Most rafts hold between six and twelve passengers, seated in groups of two or three depending on the manufacturer of the ride. Riders face toward center of the boat and are usually secured by a lap belt. Some rafts feature a circular metal bar in the middle of the raft; this gives passengers a place to grip or brace their feet. Some parks include a space for stowing small items in the center. The floor of the raft body is generally above water level to allow drainage. Most parks require riders to be 36 inches or taller.

 
Congo River Rapids in the Katanga Canyon area of Alton Towers.

Generally, the station starts at the highest point on the ride, with the river channel having a slight gradient to it for the remainder of the ride. A lift hill then brings the boats back up to station level at the end of the ride. This is usually also the point where the ride's main pumps are housed, bringing the water up from the low point and back up to the high point. The gradient on the river channel provides the water with its flow and pace. This also has the interesting side effect such that when the ride's pumps are switched off at the end of operation or in an emergency, the water naturally flows back to the end of the ride where it collects, leaving the majority of the ride's river channel empty and drained until the pumps are turned back on. All Intamin permanent (and most other) river rapids rides feature a connected lake of some sort at the end of the ride before the lift hill. This is sometimes used to store temporarily decommissioned boats. Its main purpose, however, is to help store the large amounts of water that collect at the end of the ride (before the lift hill) once the ride's main pumps are turned off. This is the water that would have been circulating around the ride when it is in operation. When observed, you can usually see the height difference in the water level in this lake from when the rides pumps are turned on, to when they are turned off. This effect is usually less noticeable if an already existing larger lake is used for the ride's water storage. Generally, a longer rapids ride will need a larger lake, as there will be more water to store once the ride's pumps have been turned off. Depending on the size and length of the river rapids ride, it can take up to 15 minutes to fill the ride's channel up from empty once the pumps have been switched on.

The flowing water makes its way over wooden logs or plastic tubes strapped to the base of the river channel, which disrupt the smooth flow of the water, thus providing the ride with its 'rapids'. Most river rapid rides also feature a wave section, where the river channel widens and a wave machine creates waves at a 90-degree angle to the flow of the water and the boats. Rocks are also sometimes bolted to the base of the river channel on metal frames, which helps create a more natural rapids feel.

There are generally two types of river rapids ride stations: those with conveyor belts and those with turntables. Those with conveyor belts are able to lift the raft completely out of the stream of water (usually as an extension of the lift hill at the end of the ride) and advance it to various points in the station to allow passengers to enter and exit via raised straight platforms on either side of the conveyors. Stations that utilize a turntable allow the raft to stay in the stream of water as the turntable continuously revolves, with the rafts wedged between the turntable and a curved surface so that the rafts move at the same speed as the turntable (and not at the same speed as the water). When they reach a certain point around the turntable, the rafts become un-wedged and are released in relatively even intervals to traverse the course.

Historically, axial flow submersible pumps have been the pump of choice for most rides of this type. The small lateral footprint and large vertical water pumping capacity make them perfect for this type of application, being large in vertical size, they fit right into the end of the ride where there is usually a sudden and large change in height from the end of the ride to the station. Some rides, due to their design, have multiple pump units at different locations along the ride. One example is the new Infinity Falls at SeaWorld Orlando. Occasionally, screw pumps have been used too. In the case of axial flow submersible pumps, rides are usually fitted with four; three being used at all times for the safe operation of the ride and a fourth on standby. The pumps are usually rotated in use to even out wear and tear.

Ride layout

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Thunder River Rapids Ride drained for maintenance showing the system that generates the rapids effect

After leaving the station, the raft will enter relatively calm waters. After travelling a safe distance (usually 5–15 metres), the raft will enter more turbulent waters. Usually rapids are made by the amusement park having large cylinder tubes underneath the water. The bigger the tube, the bigger the rapids. Along with the rapids, there are often waterfalls.

Finally, there may be pressurized water jets. An automated system may spray streams of water through a nozzle directed toward a passing raft, or on other rides, large amounts of water may shoot from a jet or cannon, often pointed upward so that the falling water will douse riders. Some parks (for instance, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay), have coin-operated water jets and cannons so that passersby can pay to attempt to soak riders.

Safety incidents

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On 25 October 2016, a malfunction of the Thunder River Rapids Ride at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, resulted in the deaths of four people. Two were ejected from the ride and two were trapped in the conveyor belt under it.[1][2] River rapids rides have also had accidents at a number of other theme parks.[3]

On 9 May 2017, an 11-year-old girl, Evha Jannath fell into the water on the Splash Canyon Ride at Drayton Manor Theme Park in Staffordshire, England at around 2:20pm. She was airlifted to Birmingham Children's Hospital but died later in the hospital due to the extent of her injuries. The park was closed from 10 to 12 May to allow the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to complete their work. The park said this was a mark of respect for her family.

On July 3, 2021, a raft on Raging River at Adventureland in Altoona, Iowa, carrying six passengers overturned, sending four guests to a local hospital with severe injuries. One of the passengers, an 11-year-old boy, later died. The ride was inspected the day before the incident and was found to be in normal working order.[4]

Notable manufacturers

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Installations

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Name Park Location Manufacturer Opened Status
ACME Rápidos Parque Warner Madrid   Spain Intamin 2002 Operating
Adventure Cove River Rapids Drayton Manor   United Kingdom Intamin 2021
1993-2017
Operating
Airship Surfing Guilin Merryland Theme Park   China Hopkins Rides 1997 Operating
Alpin-Rafting Ravensburger Spieleland   Germany Intamin 2006 Operating
Amazone Express Everland   South Korea Unknown Unknown Operating
Apache Falls Gulliver's Warrington   United Kingdom Unknown 2016 Operating
Aqua Ride Sea Paradise   Japan Intamin 1992 Operating
Arung Jeram Dunia Fantasi   Indonesia Hopkins Rides 1993 Operating
Atlantis Energylandia   Poland SBF Visa Group 2014 Operating
Beaver Rafting BonBon-Land   Denmark Intamin 1998 Operating
Bengal Rapid River Bellewaerde   Belgium Vekoma 1988 Operating
Blizzard River Six Flags New England   United States Hopkins Rides 1999 Operating
Bobby Drop Bobbejaanland   Belgium Van Egdom 1999 Removed
Calico River Rapids
Formerly Bigfoot Rapids
Knott's Berry Farm   United States Intamin 1987 Operating
Canyon Raft Ride Jin Jiang Action Park   China Bear Rides Unknown Operating
Canyon Rafting Chongqing Wanda Theme Park   China Intamin 2020 Operating
Canyon River Rapids Hersheypark   United States Intamin 1987 Removed
Çılgın Nehir Vialand   Turkey Intamin 2013 Operating
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: River Expedition Motiongate Dubai   United Arab Emirates WhiteWater West 2017 Operating
Colorad’Eau Parc du Bocasse   France Reverchon Industries 2003 Operating
Congo Rapids Six Flags Great Adventure   United States Intamin 1981 Operating
Congo River Rapids Busch Gardens Tampa   United States Intamin 1982 Operating
Congo River Rapids Alton Towers   United Kingdom Intamin 1986 Operating
Crazy River Dennlys Parc   France Soquet 2008 Operating
Crazy River Madagascar Beto Carrero World   Brazil Barr Engineering Unknown Operating
Crocodile Gorge Ratanga Junction   South Africa Intamin 1998 Removed
Crocodile Rapids Etnaland   Italy Hafema 2005 Operating
Diablo Falls Six Flags AstroWorld   United States WhiteWater West 2003 Removed
Dino Raft Walygator Parc   France Soquet 1989 Operating
Disaster Canyon Elitch Gardens   United States Hopkins Rides 1995 Operating
Djengu River Toverland   Netherlands Hafema 2013 Operating
Dòng sông thử thách Dragon Park   Vietnam Intamin 2017 Operating
Donner Fluss Holiday Park   Germany Intamin 1984 Operating
Dr. Geyser's Remarkable Raft Ride Story Land   United States Hopkins Rides 1989 Operating
Dragon River Mitsui Greenland   Japan Interlink 1997 Operating
El Rio Bobbejaanland   Belgium Hafema 2000 Operating
El Rio Grande Walibi Holland   Netherlands Vekoma 1994 Operating
Excalibur - Secrets of the Dark Forest
Formerly Mystery River
Die Unendliche Geschichte - Auf der Suche nach Phantasien
Movie Park Germany   Germany Intamin 1996 Operating
Fårup Rafting Fårup Sommerland   Denmark Bear Rides 1998 Operating
Fjord Rafting Europa-Park   Germany Intamin 1991 Operating
Fluch des Teutates Freizeitpark Plohn   Germany ABC Rides 2013 Operating
Fury of the Nile Worlds of Fun   United States Intamin 1984 Operating
Grand Canyon Dream World   Thailand Hopkins Rides 2002 Operating
Grand Canyon Rapids MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park   United States Intamin 1993 Removed
Grand Canyon Rapids PortAventura Park   Spain Intamin 1995 Operating
Grand Rapids Michigan's Adventure   United States Intamin 2006 Operating
Grizzly River Rampage Opryland USA   United States Intamin 1982 Removed
Grizzly River Run Disney California Adventure   United States Intamin 2001 Operating
Grizzly Run Six Flags Darien Lake   United States Intamin 1989 Removed
Grizzly Run Geauga Lake   United States Intamin 1996 Removed
Hidrolift Parque Aventura d'Or   Spain Zamperla 2008 Operating
High-Speed-Rafting Churpfalzpark   Germany Unknown 2003 Operating
Hunderfossen Rafting Hunderfossen Familienpark   Norway Bear Rides 2000 Operating
Hurjakuru Linnanmäki   Finland Intamin 1998 Operating
Hydro Surge Myrtle Beach Pavilion   United States Hopkins Rides 1993 Removed
Infinity Falls SeaWorld Orlando   United States Intamin 2018 Operating
I segreti dell acqua Felifonte   Italy Hafema 2003 Operating
Jungle Adventure Lotte World   South Korea Intamin Unknown Operating
Jungle Adventure Energylandia   Poland Intamin 2017 Operating
Jungle Rapids Gardaland   Italy Intamin 1999 Operating
Jungle Rapids Hainan Ocean Paradise   China Intamin 2021 Under construction
Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure Universal Studios Singapore   Singapore Hafema 2010 Operating
Kali River Rapids Disney's Animal Kingdom   United States Intamin 1999 Operating
Kållerado Liseberg   Sweden Intamin 1997 Operating
Kaskade Festyland   France Zamperla 2015 Operating
Koskiseikkailu Särkänniemi   Finland Intamin 1999 Operating
Lost River of the Ozarks Silver Dollar City   United States Barr Engineering 1985 Removed
La Descente du Colorado Le Pal   France Soquet 1988 Operating
Le Raft Bagatelle   France Hafema 2001 Operating
Le Rapidé
Also known as Drakkar
Rainbow Magicland   Italy Intamin 2011 Operating
Los Rápidos Parque Aventura d'Or   Spain Zamperla Unknown Operating
Los Rápidos Parque de Atracciones de Madrid   Spain Hopkins Rides 1996 Operating
Lost World Erse-Park   Germany ABC Rides 2004 Operating
L'Oxygénarium Parc Astérix   France WhiteWater West 1999 Operating
Mangiabiglie Miragica   Italy Zamperla 2009 Operating
Mountain Rafting Heide Park   Germany Intamin 1992 Operating
Mystic River Falls Silver Dollar City   United States Ride Engineers Switzerland 2020 Operating
Nagashimasuka Fuji-Q Highland   Japan Hafema 2008 Operating
Niagara La Récré des 3 Curés   France Van Egdom 2009 Operating
North Pole 1 Terra Park   Romania ABC Rides 2012 Operating
Périple d'Hanon Carthageland   Tunisia Hafema 2003 Operating
Piraña Efteling   Netherlands Intamin 1983 Operating
Pixie River Rainbow Magicland   Italy SBF Visa Group 2011 Operating
Planet AQA Space World   Japan Hafema 1992 Removed
Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges Universal's Islands of Adventure   United States Barr Engineering 1999 Operating
Radja River Walibi Belgium   Belgium Intamin 1988 Operating
Radja River Walibi Rhône-Alpes   France Soquet 1989 Operating
Radja River Walibi Sud-Ouest   France Intamin 1989 Operating
Rafting Didi'Land   France Soquet 2009 Operating
Rafting Africano Badoca Safari Park   Portugal Hafema 2008 Operating
Rafting-Bahn Rasti-Land   Germany Hafema 2002 Operating
Raging Rapids Kennywood   United States Intamin 1985 Operating
Raging Rapids in Boulder Canyon Holiday World   United States Hopkins Rides 1990 Closed
Raging Rapids River Ride Kentucky Kingdom   United States Intamin 1999 Operating
Raging River Adventureland   United States Intamin 1983 Removed
Raging River Great Escape   United States Intamin 1986 Operating
Raging River Rapids Gold Reef City   South Africa Intamin Unknown Operating
Ragnarok Tusenfryd   Norway Hafema 2016 Operating
Rampaging Rapids Hunt's Pier   United States Intamin 1985 Removed
Rapid River Fantasilandia   Chile WhiteWater West 2003 Operating
Rapid River Zoomarine   Portugal Preston & Barbieri 2008 Operating
Rapid River Zoosafari Fasanolandia   Italy Fabbri Group 2008 Operating
Rapid River Ride Dream Park   Egypt Intamin 1998 Operating
Rapide di Leonardo Leolandia   Italy Zamperla 2009 Operating
Rapidos de Argos Terra Mítica   Spain Intamin 2000 Operating
Rápidos del Orinoco Isla Mágica   Spain Intamin 1997 Operating
Rapids Raft Ride Gyeongju World   South Korea Hopkins Rides Unknown Operating
Rapids Raft Ride Happy Valley Shenzhen   China Hopkins Rides 1998 Operating
Rattlesnake Rapids Lagoon   United States Intamin 1997 Operating
Rattlesnake River Wonderland Amusement Park   United States Hopkins Rides 1988 Operating
Renegade Rapids Six Flags America   United States Hopkins Rides 1995 Operating
Renegade Rapids Frontier City   United States Hopkins Rides 1990 Operating
Rescate de Ulises Terra Mítica   Spain Hafema 2000 Operating
Rio Bravo Europark   France Interlink Unknown Operating
Rio Bravo Hopi Hari   Brazil Intamin 1999 Operating
Rio Bravo Mirabilandia   Italy Intamin 1992 Operating
Rio Dorado Hansa-Park   Germany WhiteWater West 2000 Operating
Rio Grande Fort Fun Abenteuerland   Germany Bear Rides 1997 Operating
Rio Grande Rafting Djurs Sommerland   Denmark Interlink 1997 Operating
Rio Grande Rapids Enchanted Kingdom   Philippines Hopkins Rides 1996 Operating
Rio Loco SeaWorld San Antonio   United States Intamin 1993 Operating
Río Navajo Parque de Atracciones de Zaragoza   Spain Intamin 2003 Operating
Río Rápido Bosque Magico   Mexico Hopkins Rides 1995 Removed
Río Rápido Parque Bicentenario Querétaro   Mexico Hafema Unknown Operating
Río Salvaje Six Flags México   Mexico Intamin 1992 Operating
Rip Roarin' Rapids Carowinds   United States Intamin 1982 Removed
Rip Roaring Rapids California's Great America   United States Intamin 1988 Operating
River Quest Phantasialand   Germany Hafema 2002 Operating
River Raft Hainan Tropical Sea World   China Hopkins Rides Unknown Removed
River Rafting Ride Wonderland   United Arab Emirates Hopkins Rides 1998 Removed
River Splash Steinwasen Park   Germany ABC Rides 2007 Operating
River Splash Ride Hello Kitty Park   China ABC Rides 2015 Operating
Rivière Sauvage Mer de Sable   France Soquet 1988 Operating
Roaring Rapids Six Flags Great America   United States Intamin 1984 Operating
Roaring Rapids Six Flags Magic Mountain   United States Intamin 1981 Operating
Roaring Rapids Six Flags Over Texas   United States Intamin 1983 Operating
Roaring Rapids Shanghai Disneyland   China Sansei Technologies 2016 Operating
Rocky Mountain Rapids American Adventure   United Kingdom Interlink 1989 Removed
Roman Rapids Busch Gardens Williamsburg   United States Intamin 1988 Operating
Romus et Rapidus Parc Astérix   France Intamin 1989 Operating
Rumba Rapids Thorpe Park   United Kingdom Intamin 1987 Operating
Saw Mill Splash Adventureland   United States WhiteWater West 2002 Operating
Shipwreck Rapids SeaWorld San Diego   United States Intamin 1999 Operating
Sky Rafting Skyline Park   Germany ABC Rides 2010 Operating
Smoky Mountain River Rampage Dollywood   United States Intamin 1986 Operating
Snowy River Rampage Wonderland Sydney   Australia Intamin 1985 Removed
Splash Water Falls Six Flags New England   United States WhiteWater West 2006 Operating
Storm Surge Thorpe Park   United Kingdom WhiteWater West 2011 Operating
Sungai Kalimantan Avonturenpark Hellendoorn   Netherlands Bear Rides 1997 Operating
Tasmanian River Rapids Wild Adventures   United States Hafema 2000 Operating
The Gully Washer Six Flags Fiesta Texas   United States Intamin 1992 Operating
The Penguin's Blizzard River Six Flags America   United States WhiteWater West 2003 Operating
The Rapids Ocean Park   China
  Hong Kong
Intamin 2011 Operating
Thunder Canyon Cedar Point   United States Intamin 1986 Operating
Thunder Canyon Dorney Park   United States Barr Engineering 1995 Operating
Thunder Canyon Silverwood Theme Park   United States Hopkins Rides 1993 Operating
Thunder Canyon Valleyfair   United States Barr Engineering 1987 Operating
Thunder Rapids Lake Compounce   United States Hopkins Rides 1997 Operating
Thunder River Six Flags AstroWorld   United States Intamin 1980 Removed
Thunder River Six Flags Over Georgia   United States Intamin 1982 Operating
Thunder River Six Flags St. Louis   United States Intamin 1983 Operating
Thunder River Rapids Ride Dreamworld   Australia Unknown 1986 Removed
Vikings' River Splash Legoland Windsor   United Kingdom ABC Rides 2007 Closed
Vikings' River Splash Legoland Billund   Denmark Intamin 2006 Operating
Waschzuber Rafting Erlebnispark Tripsdrill   Germany Hafema 1996 Operating
Wildalpenbahn Wiener Prater   Austria ABC Rides 2007 Operating
Wild Raft Familienland Pillersee   Austria Reverchon Industries 2007 Operating
Wild River Canyon Lihpao Land   Taiwan Hopkins Rides 1998 Operating
Wild River Gorge Alabama Splash Adventure   United States FAB 1999 Closed
Wild River Rafting West Midland Safari Park   United Kingdom Fabbri Group 2006 Operating
Wild River Rapids Lightwater Valley   United Kingdom Reverchon Industries 2009 Removed
Wildwasser Rafting Bayern Park   Germany ABC Rides 2007 Operating
White Water Canyon Canada's Wonderland   Canada Intamin 1984 Operating
White Water Canyon Kings Dominion   United States Intamin 1983 Operating
White Water Canyon Kings Island   United States Intamin 1985 Operating
White Water Safari Six Flags Discovery Kingdom   United States Intamin 1999 Operating
Unknown Qingdao International Beer City   China Hopkins Rides 1998 Removed

References

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  1. ^ "Dreamworld: Four people killed on Thunder River Rapids ride at Gold Coast theme park". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  2. ^ "Dreamworld deaths: Four fatalities in horror Thunder River Rapids accident". Brisbane Times. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  3. ^ "River Rapids Rides - Accident Reports". www.rideaccidents.com. Retrieved 29 October 2016. (Up to 15 September 2003)
  4. ^ Haworth, Jon (July 5, 2021). "1 dead, 3 injured after raft overturns on water ride at amusement park". ABC News. Archived from the original on July 5, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
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