Piraña at Efteling in the Netherlands

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

History

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

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

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

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.[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

Installations


NameParkLocationManufacturerOpenedStatus
ACME RápidosParque Warner MadridSpain SpainIntamin2002Operating
Adventure Cove River RapidsDrayton ManorUnited Kingdom United KingdomIntamin2021
1993-2017		Operating
Airship SurfingGuilin Merryland Theme ParkChina ChinaHopkins Rides1997Operating
Alpin-RaftingRavensburger SpielelandGermany GermanyIntamin2006Operating
Amazone ExpressEverlandSouth Korea South KoreaUnknownUnknownOperating
Apache FallsGulliver's WarringtonUnited Kingdom United KingdomUnknown2016Operating
Aqua RideSea ParadiseJapan JapanIntamin1992Operating
Arung JeramDunia FantasiIndonesia IndonesiaHopkins Rides1993Operating
AtlantisEnergylandiaPoland PolandSBF Visa Group2014Operating
Beaver RaftingBonBon-LandDenmark DenmarkIntamin1998Operating
Bengal Rapid RiverBellewaerdeBelgium BelgiumVekoma1988Operating
Blizzard RiverSix Flags New EnglandUnited States United StatesHopkins Rides1999Operating
Bobby DropBobbejaanlandBelgium BelgiumVan Egdom1999Removed
Calico River Rapids
Formerly Bigfoot Rapids		Knott's Berry FarmUnited States United StatesIntamin1987Operating
Canyon Raft RideJin Jiang Action ParkChina ChinaBear RidesUnknownOperating
Canyon RaftingChongqing Wanda Theme ParkChina ChinaIntamin2020Operating
Canyon River RapidsHersheyparkUnited States United StatesIntamin1987Removed
Çılgın NehirVialandTurkey TurkeyIntamin2013Operating
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: River ExpeditionMotiongate DubaiUnited Arab Emirates United Arab EmiratesWhiteWater West2017Operating
Colorad’EauParc du BocasseFrance FranceReverchon Industries2003Operating
Congo RapidsSix Flags Great AdventureUnited States United StatesIntamin1981Operating
Congo River RapidsBusch Gardens TampaUnited States United StatesIntamin1982Operating
Congo River RapidsAlton TowersUnited Kingdom United KingdomIntamin1986Operating
Crazy RiverDennlys ParcFrance FranceSoquet2008Operating
Crazy River MadagascarBeto Carrero WorldBrazil BrazilBarr EngineeringUnknownOperating
Crocodile GorgeRatanga JunctionSouth Africa South AfricaIntamin1998Removed
Crocodile RapidsEtnalandItaly ItalyHafema2005Operating
Diablo FallsSix Flags AstroWorldUnited States United StatesWhiteWater West2003Removed
Dino RaftWalygator ParcFrance FranceSoquet1989Operating
Disaster CanyonElitch GardensUnited States United StatesHopkins Rides1995Operating
Djengu RiverToverlandNetherlands NetherlandsHafema2013Operating
Dòng sông thử tháchDragon ParkVietnam VietnamIntamin2017Operating
Donner FlussHoliday ParkGermany GermanyIntamin1984Operating
Dr. Geyser's Remarkable Raft RideStory LandUnited States United StatesHopkins Rides1989Operating
Dragon RiverMitsui GreenlandJapan JapanInterlink1997Operating
El RioBobbejaanlandBelgium BelgiumHafema2000Operating
El Rio GrandeWalibi HollandNetherlands NetherlandsVekoma1994Operating
Excalibur - Secrets of the Dark Forest
Formerly Mystery River
Die Unendliche Geschichte - Auf der Suche nach Phantasien		Movie Park GermanyGermany GermanyIntamin1996Operating
Fårup RaftingFårup SommerlandDenmark DenmarkBear Rides1998Operating
Fjord RaftingEuropa-ParkGermany GermanyIntamin1991Operating
Fluch des TeutatesFreizeitpark PlohnGermany GermanyABC Rides2013Operating
Fury of the NileWorlds of FunUnited States United StatesIntamin1984Operating
Grand CanyonDream WorldThailand ThailandHopkins Rides2002Operating
Grand Canyon RapidsMGM Grand Adventures Theme ParkUnited States United StatesIntamin1993Removed
Grand Canyon RapidsPortAventura ParkSpain SpainIntamin1995Operating
Grand RapidsMichigan's AdventureUnited States United StatesIntamin2006Operating
Grizzly River RampageOpryland USAUnited States United StatesIntamin1982Removed
Grizzly River RunDisney California AdventureUnited States United StatesIntamin2001Operating
Grizzly RunSix Flags Darien LakeUnited States United StatesIntamin1989Removed
Grizzly RunGeauga LakeUnited States United StatesIntamin1996Removed
HidroliftParque Aventura d'OrSpain SpainZamperla2008Operating
High-Speed-RaftingChurpfalzparkGermany GermanyUnknown2003Operating
Hunderfossen RaftingHunderfossen FamilienparkNorway NorwayBear Rides2000Operating
HurjakuruLinnanmäkiFinland FinlandIntamin1998Operating
Hydro SurgeMyrtle Beach PavilionUnited States United StatesHopkins Rides1993Removed
Infinity FallsSeaWorld OrlandoUnited States United StatesIntamin2018Operating
I segreti dell acquaFelifonteItaly ItalyHafema2003Operating
Jungle AdventureLotte WorldSouth Korea South KoreaIntaminUnknownOperating
Jungle AdventureEnergylandiaPoland PolandIntamin2017Operating
Jungle RapidsGardalandItaly ItalyIntamin1999Operating
Jungle RapidsHainan Ocean ParadiseChina ChinaIntamin2021Under construction
Jurassic Park Rapids AdventureUniversal Studios SingaporeSingapore SingaporeHafema2010Operating
Kali River RapidsDisney's Animal KingdomUnited States United StatesIntamin1999Operating
KålleradoLisebergSweden SwedenIntamin1997Operating
KaskadeFestylandFrance FranceZamperla2015Operating
KoskiseikkailuSärkänniemiFinland FinlandIntamin1999Operating
Lost River of the OzarksSilver Dollar CityUnited States United StatesBarr Engineering1985Removed
La Descente du ColoradoLe PalFrance FranceSoquet1988Operating
Le RaftBagatelleFrance FranceHafema2001Operating
Le Rapidé
Also known as Drakkar		Rainbow MagiclandItaly ItalyIntamin2011Operating
Los RápidosParque Aventura d'OrSpain SpainZamperlaUnknownOperating
Los RápidosParque de Atracciones de MadridSpain SpainHopkins Rides1996Operating
Lost WorldErse-ParkGermany GermanyABC Rides2004Operating
L'OxygénariumParc AstérixFrance FranceWhiteWater West1999Operating
MangiabiglieMiragicaItaly ItalyZamperla2009Operating
Mountain RaftingHeide ParkGermany GermanyIntamin1992Operating
Mystic River FallsSilver Dollar CityUnited States United StatesRide Engineers Switzerland2020Operating
NagashimasukaFuji-Q HighlandJapan JapanHafema2008Operating
NiagaraLa Récré des 3 CurésFrance FranceVan Egdom2009Operating
North Pole 1Terra ParkRomania RomaniaABC Rides2012Operating
Périple d'HanonCarthagelandTunisia TunisiaUnknown2003Operating
PirañaEftelingNetherlands NetherlandsIntamin1983Operating
Pixie RiverRainbow MagiclandItaly ItalySBF Visa Group2011Operating
Planet AQASpace WorldJapan JapanHafema1992Removed
Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat BargesUniversal's Islands of AdventureUnited States United StatesBarr Engineering1999Operating
Radja RiverWalibi BelgiumBelgium BelgiumIntamin1988Operating
Radja RiverWalibi Rhône-AlpesFrance FranceSoquet1989Operating
Radja RiverWalibi Sud-OuestFrance FranceIntamin1989Operating
RaftingDidi'LandFrance FranceSoquet2009Operating
Rafting AfricanoBadoca Safari ParkPortugal PortugalHafema2008Operating
Rafting-BahnRasti-LandGermany GermanyHafema2002Operating
Raging RapidsKennywoodUnited States United StatesIntamin1985Operating
Raging Rapids in Boulder CanyonHoliday WorldUnited States United StatesHopkins Rides1990Closed
Raging Rapids River RideKentucky KingdomUnited States United StatesIntamin1999Operating
Raging RiverAdventurelandUnited States United StatesIntamin1983Removed
Raging RiverGreat EscapeUnited States United StatesIntamin1986Operating
Raging River RapidsGold Reef CitySouth Africa South AfricaIntaminUnknownOperating
RagnarokTusenfrydNorway NorwayHafema2016Operating
Rampaging RapidsHunt's PierUnited States United StatesIntamin1985Removed
Rapid RiverFantasilandiaChile ChileWhiteWater West2003Operating
Rapid RiverZoomarinePortugal PortugalPreston & Barbieri 2008Operating
Rapid RiverZoosafari FasanolandiaItaly ItalyFabbri Group2008Operating
Rapid River RideDream ParkEgypt EgyptIntamin1998Operating
Rapide di LeonardoLeolandiaItaly ItalyZamperla2009Operating
Rapidos de ArgosTerra MíticaSpain SpainIntamin2000Operating
Rápidos del OrinocoIsla MágicaSpain SpainIntamin1997Operating
Rapids Raft RideGyeongju WorldSouth Korea South KoreaHopkins RidesUnknownOperating
Rapids Raft RideHappy Valley ShenzhenChina ChinaHopkins Rides1998Operating
Rattlesnake RapidsLagoonUnited States United StatesIntamin1997Operating
Rattlesnake RiverWonderland Amusement ParkUnited States United StatesHopkins Rides1988Operating
Renegade RapidsSix Flags AmericaUnited States United StatesHopkins Rides1995Operating
Renegade RapidsFrontier CityUnited States United StatesHopkins Rides1990Operating
Rescate de UlisesTerra MíticaSpain SpainHafema2000Operating
Rio BravoEuroparkFrance FranceInterlinkUnknownOperating
Rio BravoHopi HariBrazil BrazilIntamin1999Operating
Rio BravoMirabilandiaItaly ItalyIntamin1992Operating
Rio DoradoHansa-ParkGermany GermanyWhiteWater West2000Operating
Rio GrandeFort Fun AbenteuerlandGermany GermanyBear Rides1997Operating
Rio Grande RaftingDjurs SommerlandDenmark DenmarkInterlink1997Operating
Rio Grande RapidsEnchanted KingdomPhilippines PhilippinesHopkins Rides1996Operating
Rio LocoSeaWorld San AntonioUnited States United StatesIntamin1993Operating
Río NavajoParque de Atracciones de ZaragozaSpain SpainIntamin2003Operating
Río RápidoBosque MagicoMexico MexicoHopkins Rides1995Removed
Río RápidoParque Bicentenario QuerétaroMexico MexicoHafemaUnknownOperating
Río SalvajeSix Flags MéxicoMexico MexicoIntamin1992Operating
Rip Roarin' RapidsCarowindsUnited States United StatesIntamin1982Removed
Rip Roaring RapidsCalifornia's Great AmericaUnited States United StatesIntamin1988Operating
River QuestPhantasialandGermany GermanyHafema2002Operating
River RaftHainan Tropical Sea WorldChina ChinaHopkins RidesUnknownRemoved
River Rafting RideWonderlandUnited Arab Emirates United Arab EmiratesHopkins Rides1998Removed
River SplashSteinwasen ParkGermany GermanyABC Rides2007Operating
River Splash RideHello Kitty ParkChina ChinaABC Rides2015Operating
Rivière SauvageMer de SableFrance FranceSoquet1988Operating
Roaring RapidsSix Flags Great AmericaUnited States United StatesIntamin1984Operating
Roaring RapidsSix Flags Magic MountainUnited States United StatesIntamin1981Operating
Roaring RapidsSix Flags Over TexasUnited States United StatesIntamin1983Operating
Roaring RapidsShanghai DisneylandChina ChinaSansei Technologies2016Operating
Rocky Mountain RapidsAmerican AdventureUnited Kingdom United KingdomInterlink1989Removed
Roman RapidsBusch Gardens WilliamsburgUnited States United StatesIntamin1988Operating
Romus et RapidusParc AstérixFrance FranceIntamin1989Operating
Rumba RapidsThorpe ParkUnited Kingdom United KingdomIntamin1987Operating
Saw Mill SplashAdventurelandUnited States United StatesWhiteWater West2002Operating
Shipwreck RapidsSeaWorld San DiegoUnited States United StatesIntamin1999Operating
Sky RaftingSkyline ParkGermany GermanyABC Rides2010Operating
Smoky Mountain River RampageDollywoodUnited States United StatesIntamin1986Operating
Snowy River RampageWonderland SydneyAustralia AustraliaIntamin1985Removed
Splash Water FallsSix Flags New EnglandUnited States United StatesWhiteWater West2006Operating
Storm SurgeThorpe ParkUnited Kingdom United KingdomWhiteWater West2011Operating
Sungai KalimantanAvonturenpark HellendoornNetherlands NetherlandsBear Rides1997Operating
Tasmanian River RapidsWild AdventuresUnited States United StatesHafema2000Operating
The Gully WasherSix Flags Fiesta TexasUnited States United StatesIntamin1992Operating
The Penguin's Blizzard RiverSix Flags AmericaUnited States United StatesWhiteWater West2003Operating
The RapidsOcean ParkChina China
Hong Kong Hong Kong		Intamin2011Operating
Thunder CanyonCedar PointUnited States United StatesIntamin1986Operating
Thunder CanyonDorney ParkUnited States United StatesBarr Engineering1995Operating
Thunder CanyonSilverwood Theme ParkUnited States United StatesHopkins Rides1993Operating
Thunder CanyonValleyfairUnited States United StatesBarr Engineering1987Operating
Thunder RapidsLake CompounceUnited States United StatesHopkins Rides1997Operating
Thunder RiverSix Flags AstroWorldUnited States United StatesIntamin1980Removed
Thunder RiverSix Flags Over GeorgiaUnited States United StatesIntamin1982Operating
Thunder RiverSix Flags St. LouisUnited States United StatesIntamin1983Operating
Thunder River Rapids RideDreamworldAustralia AustraliaUnknown1986Removed
Vikings' River SplashLegoland WindsorUnited Kingdom United KingdomABC Rides2007Closed
Vikings' River SplashLegoland BillundDenmark DenmarkIntamin2006Operating
Waschzuber RaftingErlebnispark TripsdrillGermany GermanyHafema1996Operating
WildalpenbahnWiener PraterAustria AustriaABC Rides2007Operating
Wild RaftFamilienland PillerseeAustria AustriaReverchon Industries2007Operating
Wild River CanyonLihpao LandTaiwan TaiwanHopkins Rides1998Operating
Wild River GorgeAlabama Splash AdventureUnited States United StatesFAB1999Closed
Wild River RaftingWest Midland Safari ParkUnited Kingdom United KingdomFabbri Group2006Operating
Wild River RapidsLightwater ValleyUnited Kingdom United KingdomReverchon Industries2009Removed
Wildwasser RaftingBayern ParkGermany GermanyABC Rides2007Operating
White Water CanyonCanada's WonderlandCanada CanadaIntamin1984Operating
White Water CanyonKings DominionUnited States United StatesIntamin1983Operating
White Water CanyonKings IslandUnited States United StatesIntamin1985Operating
White Water SafariSix Flags Discovery KingdomUnited States United StatesIntamin1999Operating
UnknownQingdao International Beer CityChina ChinaHopkins Rides1998Removed

References

  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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