Man has always venerated big rivers as a source of life. Their waters provided food and on their banks the first cities were built. However only the most daring people took on the water itself. First were the conquistadors of the New World. In the 16th century Orellana and other Spanish conquerors sailed the Amazon and Orinoco rivers in their quest for El Dorado. Later, American explorers followed rivers to discover new territories. These days nobody seeks treasure any more, but many like to enjoy the adventure of spending time on a river.

A team sport
Rafting revives the journeys and hardships of those explorers of olden days and turns them into a fun adventure that anyone can do. The idea is to go down rapids in an inflatable raft, aided only by oars handled by the people on the raft. Six, eight or even 12 people fit in the raft. One acts as a guide, sitting at the back of the boat and calling out instructions to the others. Coordination is fundamental to keep people from falling out or, even worse, the raft from capsizing.

Before setting out it, is necessary to know the symbols used to send orders because during such a trip there is no time for lengthy explanations. However, as it is possible to learn little by little as you go along. Rivers are classified by levels going from I to VII to indicate their level of difficulty. Thus in category I the movements of the river�s water do not change drastically, the waves are small and there are few obstacles. Class II means rapids that are easy to negotiate and with waves up to three feet. That means you need a certain skill at manoeuvring. From class V on, the rapids are long  and violent, rescue nearly impossible and therefore you need a lot of preparation.

Made in USA
Like many adventure sports, rafting originated in the United States. Although the first championship was held in Europe in the 1950s, the sport did not become widely popular until the mid-70s, and did so in the state of Colorado. Since then, it has won many new fans all around the world. Rafting to Europe with in earnest in the 1980s thanks to the French. It was the French who invented the white water style (Eaux Vives) and started marketing it as a leisure activity. In Spain, rafting�s history began in 1987 when a raft was navigated for the first time down the Noguera river in Pallaresa, in province of Lleida. Since then, several companies pitching adventure tourism have emerged and have made rafting their star attraction. The Noguera river is still a popular spot for this sport.

Essential material
So rafts made of plastics like PVC, hypalon or urethane. And they are made of three or four independent tubes so that if one is punctured the whole raft does not deflate. There are two kinds of oars. The longest are those used by the guide to set the course of the raft. Each crew member then has a smaller oar that is used in coordination with the other members and following the instructions of the guide. All are necessary to negotiate the river safely. Whatever the level of the difficulty of the river, the risk of hitting rocks makes it essential to wear a helmet. A life vest is just as necessary because if a crew members falls in the water, it takes time to fish them out. Nor is it a bad idea to get a neoprene suit to protect against the frigid temperature of river water or rubbing up against rocks.