History

RAFTING - DRIFTING ALONG THE WILD RIVER

HISTORY OF RAFTING

The use of wooden logs for cargo transportation had an extensive tradition in the world as well as at some rivers within our territory. However, the modern rafting (the first inflate rafts were used by the army) is one of the most recent activities which made the unreachable areas familiar to the athletes , those interested in recreation and to the tourists.

The life rhythm which is getting faster every day (especially in urban realities) and the environmental pollution ,either on global or local level, made the stay in the nature indispensable as to preserve one's health. This need has enforced the values of the Eco tourism and contributed to the popularization of the sports activities that are closely related to the nature.

Rafting is the most significant activity of the active vacation. Regardless the fact that rafting is a sport it is also a movement meant to preserve the rivers and nature in general. Rafting along wild rivers is becoming widespread among people since one does not need to be a professional athlete as to participate in it. You could be just a simple tourist eager for excitement since every single crew is very well equipped and accompanied by an experienced guide. The guides provide security to the crew as they are familiar with the potential risks and obstacles that might occur in the course of the route.

The likelihood of confronting impediments while rafting could be anticipated after having consulted the facts dealing with the classification of rivers (the classification scale from 1 - 6 indicates how demanding some paths of the river could be) which varies due to the alteration of the water level and the river banks. The more demanding the river is, the more excitement is involved so that the rafters usually become swimmers. The rivers of the same classification could be different as far as the risks are concerned and even the elements within the same classification could be widely divergent. In river evaluation a great deal of factors referred to the strong currents, inaccessibility and risks are to be considered.

Regardless the river classification (except classification VI which is inadmissible for rafting), the greatest "risk" could be to fall in love with rafting, rivers and nature in general.