Rafting is an outdoor recreational activity in which small groups of people float down a river on rafts. Rafting provides an opportunity to enjoy scenic wilderness areas in a fresh way. Many people enjoy the adventure and challenge of rafting on rivers that have white water (rapids). A raft trip can last for hours, or it can be combined with a camping trip that lasts for days.
Most rafts are 12 to 16 feet (3.7 to 5 meters) long. The most common kind are inflatable rafts made of nylon fabric coated with neoprene (synthetic rubber). The shape resembles a rectangle with rounded corners. Most crews consist of six people. They sit on the sides of the raft and steer it with paddles. The raft is one of the oldest forms of transportation. But rafting did not become a popular leisure-time activity until the 1960’s.
