For more detailed information on rafting, canoeing and kayaking

Rafting - from English. raft (raft) - is one in Central Europe since the mid-eighties, has become popular recreational sport. At this water sport is traversed with a rafting boat (raft) a river. Usually we travel on whitewater higher difficulty levels.

Rafting is a recreational sports commercial operators run over. Some clubs also offer canoeing rafting. There is also the relatively unknown rafting competitive sport. In the Rafting since 2001 are official World Championships were held in two years in rhythm.

Rafts are usually for 4 to 12 persons. They are made of very durable, multi-layered rubberized fabrics with several independent air chambers. The length generally varies between 3.50 m and 6 m, the width between 1.80 m and 2.50 m. To differentiate between different boat shapes. In Europe, the symmetrical, with the paddle on the tail-controlled raft common. Other types are the asymmetrical, rudder-controlled raft raft and the symmetrical raft with central helm (oars engl. : Belts). Rafts are moving forward with the paddle. A special form, the inflatable kayak (ducky), is driven by the double paddle forward.

Canyoning - Besides the thrill of adventure sports is above all the nature in the foreground. In that sport play team spirit and mutual trust is an important part. Of course, the environment and nature protection can not be forgotten. Some environmentalists criticize canyoning, as parts of nature are committed to the otherwise would never reach a human. In particular, the widespread commercial marketing for the tourism lead to problems. However, bear in mind that quite canyons represent a type of disaster areas. For these are some several times a year by Hochwaessern changed far more than by the influence of people who pass through these gorges. In many Schluchtingtouren is primarily the common experience of nature in the foreground.

Kayak comes from the Greenland Qajaq (singular : Qajaup, Dual : Qajaak, plural : Qajait), a paddle boat with the Arctic in origin and refers to a type of boat is driven by a double paddle and the occupants sit in the same direction. Kayaks and Canadians are the two major subgroups of canoes.
The kayak was used by the Inuit (Eskimos) as a fast, maneuverable boat designed for hunting. The Inuit built a frame of wood and bone, which was covered with animal skins. Especially in the traditional Greenland kayak construction is still in use, the skin is now mostly made of impregnated canvas. The design of the kayaks is subject to regional differences, in Alaska rather short and wide, in Greenland rather long and narrow. The Ka-i-ak traditionally is a closed Maennerboot, the open top women's boat is the Umiak. Similar boats, namely the Baidarkas were used in the Aleutians. An invention of the Inuit as well as the Eskimo roll (also : Kenter Character) technique known to sit up in capsize quickly and without exiting again.

Source : http : / / De.wikipedia.org / wiki / Rafting