River rapids ride


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

History

The river rapids ride concept was proposed by Bill Crandall 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 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

Many modern river rapids rides feature a much narrower river channel as well as smaller boats. 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.
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 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 broken boats. Its main purpose, however, is to help store the large amounts of water that collect at the end of the ride 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 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. 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

After leaving the station, the raft will enter relatively calm waters. After travelling a safe distance, 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, have coin-operated water jets and cannons so that passersby can pay to attempt to soak riders.

Safety incidents

On 25 October 2016, a malfunction of the Thunder River Rapids Ride at Dreamworld in 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. River rapids rides have also had accidents at a number of other theme parks.
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 10−12 May to allow the Health and Safety Executive to complete their work. The park said this was a mark of respect for her family.

Notable manufacturers

NameParkLocationManufacturerOpenedStatus
Périple d'HanonCarthageland Tunisia2003
River RaftHainan Tropical Sea World ChinaHopkins Rides
Qingdao International Beer City ChinaHopkins Rides1998
Crocodile GorgeRatanga Junction South Africa1998
ACME RápidosParque Warner Madrid SpainIntamin2002
Airship SurfingGuilin Merryland Theme Park ChinaHopkins Rides1997
Alpin-RaftingRavensburger Spieleland GermanyIntamin2006
Amazone ExpressEverland South Korea
Apache FallsGulliver's Warrington United Kingdom2016
Aqua RideSea Paradise JapanIntamin1992
Arung JeramDunia Fantasi IndonesiaHopkins Rides1993
AtlantisEnergylandia PolandSBF Visa Group2014
Beaver RaftingBonBon-Land DenmarkIntamin1998
Bengal Rapid RiverBellewaerde BelgiumVekoma1988
Blizzard RiverSix Flags New England United StatesHopkins Rides1999
Bobby DropBobbejaanland BelgiumVan Egdom1999
Calico River Rapids
Formerly Bigfoot Rapids		Knott's Berry Farm United StatesIntamin1987
Canyon Raft RideJin Jiang Action Park ChinaBear Rides
Canyon River RapidsHersheypark United StatesIntamin1987
Çılgın NehirVialand TurkeyIntamin2013
Colorad’EauParc du Bocasse FranceReverchon Industries2003
Congo RapidsSix Flags Great Adventure United StatesIntamin1981
Congo River RapidsBusch Gardens Tampa United StatesIntamin1982
Congo River RapidsAlton Towers United KingdomIntamin1986
Crazy RiverDennlys Parc FranceSoquet2008
Crazy River MadagascarBeto Carrero World BrazilBarr Engineering
Crocodile RapidsEtnaland ItalyHafema2005
Diablo FallsSix Flags AstroWorld United StatesWhiteWater West2003
Dino RaftWalygator Parc FranceSoquet1989
Disaster CanyonElitch Gardens United StatesHopkins Rides1995
Djengu RiverToverland NetherlandsHafema2013
Dòng sông thử tháchDragon Park VietnamIntamin2017
Donner FlussHoliday Park GermanyIntamin1984
Dr. Geyser's Remarkable Raft RideStory Land United StatesHopkins Rides1989
El RioBobbejaanland BelgiumHafema2000
El Rio GrandeWalibi Holland NetherlandsVekoma1994
Excalibur - Secrets of the Dark Forest
Formerly Mystery River
Die Unendliche Geschichte - Auf der Suche nach Phantasien		Movie Park Germany GermanyIntamin1996
Fårup RaftingFårup Sommerland DenmarkBear Rides1998
Fjord RaftingEuropa-Park GermanyIntamin1991
Fluch des TeutatesFreizeitpark Plohn GermanyABC Rides2013
Fury of the NileWorlds of Fun United StatesIntamin1984
Grand CanyonDream World ThailandHopkins Rides2002
Grand Canyon RapidsMGM Grand Adventures Theme Park United StatesIntamin1993
Grand Canyon RapidsPortAventura Park SpainIntamin1995
Grand RapidsMichigan's Adventure United StatesIntamin2006
Grizzly River RampageOpryland USA United StatesIntamin1982
Grizzly River RunDisney California Adventure United StatesIntamin2001
Grizzly RunDarien Lake United StatesIntamin1989
Grizzly RunGeauga Lake United StatesIntamin1996
HidroliftParque Aventura d'Or SpainZamperla2008
High-Speed-RaftingChurpfalzpark Germany2003
Hunderfossen RaftingHunderfossen Familienpark NorwayBear Rides2000
HurjakuruLinnanmäki FinlandIntamin1998
Hydro SurgeMyrtle Beach Pavilion United StatesHopkins Rides1993
Infinity FallsSeaWorld Orlando United StatesIntamin2018
I segreti dell acquaFelifonte ItalyHafema2003
Jungle AdventureLotte World South KoreaIntamin
Jungle AdventureEnergylandia PolandIntamin2017
Jungle RapidsGardaland ItalyIntamin1999
Jurassic Park Rapids AdventureUniversal Studios Singapore SingaporeHafema2010
Kali River RapidsDisney's Animal Kingdom United StatesIntamin1999
KålleradoLiseberg SwedenIntamin1997
KaskadeFestyland FranceZamperla2015
KoskiseikkailuSärkänniemi FinlandIntamin1999
Lost River of the OzarksSilver Dollar City United StatesBarr Engineering1985
La Descente du ColoradoLe Pal FranceSoquet1988
Le RaftBagatelle FranceHafema2001
Le Rapidé
Also known as Drakkar		Rainbow Magicland ItalyIntamin2011
Los RápidosParque Aventura d'Or SpainZamperla
Los RápidosParque de Atracciones de Madrid SpainHopkins Rides1996
Lost WorldErse-Park GermanyABC Rides2004
L'OxygénariumParc Astérix FranceWhiteWater West1999
MangiabiglieMiragica ItalyZamperla2009
Mountain RaftingHeide Park GermanyIntamin1992
Mystic River FallsSilver Dollar City United StatesRide Engineers Switzerland2019
NagashimasukaFuji-Q Highland JapanHafema2008
NiagaraLa Récré des 3 Curés FranceVan Egdom2009
North Pole 1Terra Park RomaniaABC Rides2012
PirañaEfteling NetherlandsIntamin1983
Pixie RiverRainbow Magicland ItalySBF Visa Group2011
Planet AQASpace World JapanHafema1992
Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat BargesUniversal's Islands of Adventure United StatesBarr Engineering1999
Radja RiverWalibi Belgium BelgiumIntamin1988
Radja RiverWalibi Rhône-Alpes FranceSoquet1989
Radja RiverWalibi Sud-Ouest FranceIntamin1989
RaftingDidi'Land FranceSoquet2009
Rafting AfricanoBadoca Safari Park PortugalHafema2008
Rafting-BahnRasti-Land GermanyHafema2002
Raging RapidsKennywood United StatesIntamin1985
Raging Rapids in Boulder CanyonHoliday World United StatesHopkins Rides1990
Raging Rapids River RideKentucky Kingdom United StatesIntamin1999
Raging RiverAdventureland United StatesIntamin1983
Raging RiverGreat Escape United StatesIntamin1986
Raging River RapidsGold Reef City South AfricaIntamin
RagnarokTusenfryd NorwayHafema2016
Rampaging RapidsHunt's Pier United StatesIntamin1985
Rapid RiverFantasilandia ChileWhiteWater West2003
Rapid RiverZoomarine PortugalPreston & Barbieri2008
Rapid RiverZoosafari Fasanolandia ItalyFabbri Group2008
Rapid River RideDream Park EgyptIntamin1998
Rapide di LeonardoLeolandia ItalyZamperla2009
Rapidos de ArgosTerra Mítica SpainIntamin2000
Rápidos del OrinocoIsla Mágica SpainIntamin1997
Rapids Raft RideGyeongju World South KoreaHopkins Rides
Rapids Raft RideHappy Valley Shenzhen ChinaHopkins Rides1998
Rattlesnake RapidsLagoon United StatesIntamin1997
Rattlesnake RiverWonderland Amusement Park United StatesHopkins Rides
Renegade RapidsSix Flags America United StatesHopkins Rides1995
Renegade RapidsFrontier City United StatesHopkins Rides1990
Rescate de UlisesTerra Mítica SpainHafema2000
Rio BravoEuropark FranceInterlink
Rio BravoHopi Hari BrazilIntamin
Rio BravoMirabilandia ItalyIntamin1992
Rio DoradoHansa-Park GermanyWhiteWater West2000
Rio GrandeFort Fun Abenteuerland GermanyBear Rides1997
Rio Grande RaftingDjurs Sommerland DenmarkInterlink1997
Rio Grande RapidsEnchanted Kingdom PhilippinesHopkins Rides1996
Rio LocoSeaWorld San Antonio United StatesIntamin1993
Río NavajoParque de Atracciones de Zaragoza SpainIntamin2003
Río RápidoBosque Magico MexicoHopkins Rides1995
Río RápidoParque Bicentenario Querétaro MexicoHafema
Río SalvajeSix Flags México MexicoIntamin1992
Rip Roarin' RapidsCarowinds United StatesKings Entertainment Company1982
Rip Roarin' RapidsCalifornia's Great America United StatesIntamin1988
River QuestPhantasialand GermanyHafema2002
River Rafting RideWonderland United Arab EmiratesHopkins Rides1998
River SplashSteinwasen Park GermanyABC Rides2007
River Splash RideHello Kitty Park ChinaABC Rides2015
Rivière SauvageMer de Sable FranceSoquet1988
Roaring RapidsSix Flags Great America United StatesIntamin1984
Roaring RapidsSix Flags Magic Mountain United StatesIntamin1981
Roaring RapidsSix Flags Over Texas United StatesIntamin1983
Roaring RapidsShanghai Disneyland ChinaWalt Disney Imagineering2016
Rocky Mountain RapidsAmerican Adventure United KingdomInterlink1989
Roman RapidsBusch Gardens Williamsburg United StatesIntamin1988
Romus et RapidusParc Astérix FranceIntamin1989
Rumba RapidsThorpe Park United KingdomIntamin1987
Saw Mill SplashAdventureland United StatesWhiteWater West2002
Shipwreck RapidsSeaWorld San Diego United StatesIntamin1999
Sky RaftingSkyline Park GermanyABC Rides2010
Smoky Mountain River RampageDollywood United StatesIntamin1986
Snowy River RampageWonderland Sydney AustraliaIntamin1985
Splash CanyonDrayton Manor United KingdomIntamin1993
Splash Water FallsSix Flags New England United StatesWhiteWater West2006
Storm SurgeThorpe Park United KingdomWhiteWater West2011
Sungai KalimantanAvonturenpark Hellendoorn NetherlandsBear Rides1997
Tasmanian River RapidsWild Adventures United StatesHafema2000
The Gully WasherSix Flags Fiesta Texas United StatesIntamin1992
The Penguin's Blizzard RiverSix Flags America United StatesWhiteWater West2003
The RapidsOcean Park China
Hong Kong		Intamin2011
Thunder CanyonCedar Point United StatesIntamin1986
Thunder CanyonDorney Park United StatesBarr Engineering1995
Thunder CanyonSilverwood Theme Park United StatesHopkins Rides1993
Thunder CanyonValleyfair United StatesBarr Engineering1987
Thunder RapidsLake Compounce United StatesHopkins Rides1997
Thunder RiverSix Flags AstroWorld United StatesIntamin1980
Thunder RiverSix Flags Over Georgia United StatesIntamin1982
Thunder RiverSix Flags St. Louis United StatesIntamin1983
Thunder River Rapids RideDreamworld Australia1986
Vikings' River SplashLegoland Windsor United KingdomABC Rides2007
Vikings' River SplashLegoland Billund DenmarkIntamin2006
Waschgzuber RaftingErlebnispark Tripsdrill GermanyHafema1996
WildalpenbahnWiener Prater AustriaABC Rides2007
Wild RaftFamilienland Pillersee AustriaReverchon Industries2007
Wild River CanyonLihpao Land TaiwanHopkins Rides1998
Wild River RaftingWest Midland Safari Park United KingdomFabbri Group2006
Wild River RapidsLightwater Valley United KingdomReverchon Industries2009
Wildwasser RaftingBayern Park GermanyABC Rides2007
Wild West AdventureAttractiepark Slagharen NetherlandsMack Rides2000
White Water CanyonCanada's Wonderland CanadaIntamin1984
White Water CanyonKings Dominion United StatesIntamin1983
White Water CanyonKings Island United StatesIntamin1985
White Water SafariSix Flags Discovery Kingdom United StatesIntamin1999