The most difficult river for rafting. Water routes in the Altai Republic of various categories of complexity. Karelia and the Kola Peninsula

Posted Mon, 23/10/2017 - 07:20 by Cap

The most popular rafting rivers in the world

Exciting sense of danger, united team spirit and refreshing splashes ice water mountain rivers - these are the main features of rafting, which every year increase the number of fans of extreme sports. Attracts rafting and people middle age, and children who go to conquer the elements with their parents.

And if some are attracted simply by beautiful mountain rivers, then others go to the most remote places on the planet in search of extreme sports. Some rivers are considered incredibly dangerous for rafting because of the changeable current and the abundance of difficult rapids - they become the goal of experienced extreme sportsmen.
For competitions, athletes also choose the most dangerous rapids of the rivers in order to be able to fully demonstrate their skills. If you have been feeling at one with an inflatable boat for a long time, then it's time to take a trip to one of the most dangerous places for rafting.
Water procedures harden the body and strengthen the spirit, especially if we are talking about extreme rafting. This original way acquaintance with water element quench the thirst for adrenaline even in the most desperate daredevils - high speed, raging waves and dangers that await at every turn.

For fans of extreme rafting and just lovers of active tourism, we have prepared a selection of the most dangerous and interesting river routes in the world.

Franklin River. Tasmania, Australia

“The Franklin River has a special energy - in its waters you forget about all your problems,” writes Martin, a rafter from Australia. Franklin is one of the deepest and longest rivers of the Green Continent. It's scary to think, but some 25 years ago, Franklin could have been killed. The local authorities wanted to build a dam in its waters, but after a long struggle, the guards environment managed to prevent it.

Now Franklin is a popular place among fans of active tourism. According to the international sports classification, rafting on this river is ranked as the highest category of difficulty. The river often changes its course, the route is complicated by fallen tree trunks. In addition to forest debris, pitfalls and river rapids, tourists will have to overcome the psychological factor - the rafting takes place far from civilization, and in the event of a disaster, rescuers will arrive only after a couple of days.
The best time for rafting is from October to April. Travel agencies Australia offers rafting programs lasting 8 and 10 days. An eight-day rafting will cost about $2,500.
The Franklin flows through the Franklin-Gordon-Wild Rivers National Park. You can get there from the state capital of Hobrath along the B62 towards New Norfolk in 1 hour.

- a river in the central part of Altai, the right tributary of the Katun, one of the largest.
The length is 106 km (without the Akalaha River), the basin area is 9550 km².
Argut begins at the confluence of Jazator and Akalahi. The abundance of glaciers determines the character water regime: 40% of runoff comes from glaciers and permanent snows, 34% from seasonal snows, 17% from rains, 9% from The groundwater. Freezes in November, opens in April. The average slope of the river is 10 m/km, the average annual discharge at the mouth is 112 m³/s.
Argut has a large water flow, which is highly dependent on tributaries flowing mainly from the glaciers of the Katunsky and Chuisky ridges. In the Argut basin there are calm rivers and streams of the Ukok plateau, powerful milky-white tributaries with boiling whirlpools starting from glaciers, and transparent, clean, swift streams flowing from lakes.

confluence of Argut and Katun, Altai

Argut is one of the few places in Altai where Snow Leopard(irbis). The largest group of Siberian ibex in the Altai-Sayan region also lives here.

Here, the highest density of mountain goats is recorded, which graze on the steep slopes of the mountains. There is good fishing on the Argut and its tributaries - Karagem, Yungur, Shavle. IN upstream and tributaries caught grayling, in the lower reaches also uskuch and taimen.

The valley of the Argut River is also rich in archaeological monuments. Burial mounds are found everywhere here. Many of them are adjacent to winter huts - square structures, as a rule, with a flat roof, covered with logs and turf. In addition to mounds, you can find stone fences, balbals, stone women here. Somewhere on the rock ledges, ancient drawings have been preserved. There is such an abundance of archaeological sites that, for sure, once life was in full swing here. Now these places can be called wild. From settlements- only the village of Belyashi, one of the most remote villages of the republic, and Argut or Arkhyt, a small village with several houses, as well as winter huts, which are inhabited only in summer time(for the winter, cattle are driven to the Ukok plateau).

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In any field of activity there is a degree of professionalism. Each participant in the rafting on the river must take into account their own strengths and capabilities, and therefore you should familiarize yourself with the available levels of difficulty (classification) of the rapids.

Of course, you can take into account the international classification, but it is presented in the form of a dry technological language. In practice, usually take into account the flow of water in the threshold, the nature and density of obstacles.

1st category

Obstacles of the first category are characterized by fast-flowing water with small waves. All obstacles are easily passed. It is almost impossible to fall out of the boat, but if it does, the shore is close. In this case, all equipment remains intact. The first class of obstacles corresponds to water recreation. When rafting on a raft, catamaran or kayak - almost no extreme sensations ( Southern Bug in the Vinnytsia region at a low water level).

2nd category

The second category was created for amateurs. In this case, it is possible to overcome straight rapids with clean and wide passages between the stones. You will be able to meet "plums" and "barrels". Unprepared participants can raft on inflatable kayaks, rafting on which can be very interesting (until the first flip). Rafting on rafts is more calm (Southern Bug, Black Cheremosh at low water levels).

3rd category

Random and high ramparts predominate. There may be numerous stones, small suvodi (calm area of ​​water on the threshold). Medium difficulty level. Rafting on an inflatable kayak for beginners is quite difficult, but interesting, coups are inevitable. Rafting on a raft brings a lot of pleasure, coups are practically impossible (and the Carpathian rivers (with high level water; rivers of Georgia North Caucasus, Norway).

The fourth category is extreme. One must be prepared for powerful and intense rapids, requiring precise maneuverability when passing them; the flow varies in power and can be unpredictable. Rafting on inflatable kayaks is very difficult, even for advanced participants. Raft inspires confidence with reliability, performs in all its glory, but you need to be able to properly manage it. Sometimes there are coups (Prut at high water levels, the Caucasus, the Kola Peninsula, Norway).

5th category

The fifth category includes the passage of water obstacles, the passage of which can cause serious harm to health. In this case, not only maneuverability is important, but also preliminary reconnaissance of obstacles, since some sections of the river may be dangerous. Thresholds include complex barrels, clamps, waterfall plums. Rafting on rafts and catamarans is possible if you have a lot of rafting experience (rivers of Georgia, the Caucasus,).

6th category

The sixth category is considered extremely difficult. The risk is huge! This category of obstacles can only be passed by professional athletes. Most often, such obstacles remain unconquered (the rivers of Georgia, the Caucasus, Norway, the Kola Peninsula at high water levels).

Usually, a certain category is assigned to a river and its individual sections, which helps to more accurately determine the category of difficulty (c.s.). For example, a river of 4 class. with elements of 6 k.s.

The first category, the third, the fifth category of obstacles - what do we know about them? Eat international classification, there is Russian - but both are written in the dry language of technological details. But what actually happens at one level or another? How does a person feel who has fallen overboard on a section of the second or fourth category of complexity? What can be expected in this or that case?

You will get answers to all these questions from our short article, which could be titled “in a life jacket on the rapids”.

Class I: almost rest

What is a first category obstacle? It is fast flowing water with rapids and small waves. It is unlikely that you will fall out of the boat in this area, but if this does happen, the coast is easily accessible. Some extreme people consider such a swim even a pleasant rest from rowing. Almost all equipment remains safe and sound. True, the boat can be scratched a little.

Class II: for hobbyists

Here you will encounter straight rapids with wide, clear passages, obvious without reconnaissance. Once overboard, you won’t have to rest - we actively collect things and make sure not to run into slippery stones and thorny bushes when going ashore. The oars, if lost, will have to be looked for far downstream. Something may be irretrievably lost - as a rule, these are small items. Dents and deep scratches can appear on the boat from hitting pitfalls.

Class III: Be Always Ready!

Thresholds of the third degree, even if desired, can already be difficult to bypass. Irregular shafts, foamy water await you. It's easy to fall overboard here, and you have to be prepared for the consequences. Legs will periodically scratch painfully on sharp pitfalls. Some things will have to be voluntarily given to the flow. The difficult decision to hold on to the boat can lead to embarrassing moments when the swimmer finds himself downstream of the boat. The paddle may well end up in a small barrel much upstream. All personal equipment floats away from you in different directions. Those who were on the shore before you give valuable advice. On the boat it is really possible to detect dents.

Class IV: extreme begins

The fourth category is most often found in cold mountain rivers, and in order not to freeze, take care of a wetsuit in advance. Tense, powerful yet predictable rapids require precise maneuvering when sailing in turbulent flow. And here it is better to play it safe and either bypass the dangerous area along the coast, or follow all the instructions exactly and be ready for anything. It is very scary to fall into powerful plums, and getting out onto land can be very difficult and in some cases not recommended at all. You can completely forget about the paddle. With water pressure, it washes away the sealed packaging with all valuable things - then you find them only with great luck. And the boat itself can easily get stuck in the center of the threshold. Even the saving-end thrown by happier comrades is not so easy to grasp. In general, swimming in such water is not a pleasure for the faint of heart, and it is much easier to avoid it than to overcome it.

Class V: for specialists only

Passing an obstacle of the fifth category without an alloy is not even for experts, but for heroes. Water, as a rule, has a temperature of about 5 degrees Celsius and, you know, it will not work for a long time without serious harm to health. The word swim is more than appropriate here, because almost nothing depends on you here. You can get stuck in a barrel, and even attempts to turn faster to the shore fail, as the rapids this class have a length of a kilometer or more. The pressure of the water will usually wash away anything that can be washed away from you in the first few seconds (shoes, gloves, Sunglasses and so on.). There is nothing to say about what was in the boat: most of the equipment is irretrievably lost in a few minutes, or even seconds. If the boat can be salvaged, it usually requires a three-day repair. Without injuries, you won’t get out on land - fractures, hypothermia and concussions are almost guaranteed to you. In general, a smart one will not go to the threshold of the fifth category, a smart one will bypass it!

Class VI: not for swimmers

Do you want to experience the thrill and try your hand at extreme rafting on a stormy, rapids river? Then we bring to your attention the most dangerous and extreme places for rafting. This is the best you can find in the world in terms of active and extreme recreation, which can give you a lot of thrills.

Zambezi River (Zimbabwe)

One of the best and most extreme rafting routes is the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe, which boasts the majestic Victoria Falls. full flowing river It has many rapids and a number of waterfalls. There are rapids of the fourth and fifth difficulty levels here, which can give rafters a real burst of adrenaline. Traveling along the Zambezi River is a constant struggle with extremely difficult and long rapids, as well as strong whirlpools.

On the Zambezi there is also a threshold of the sixth level of difficulty - such rapids are considered simply impassable on a raft. Rafting in Zimbabwe is excellently organized. All participants are provided with helmets, life jackets and related equipment. Rafting on the river is carried out under the supervision of professional African instructors. Camping equipment is also provided. All you need to take with you is warm clothes and hygiene products.

Colorado River (Arizona, USA)

The headwaters of the Colorado River are in rocky mountains, after which it rapidly descends and flows into Pacific Ocean already in Mexico. This is the most dangerous and popular rafting route in North America. The river is known for its numerous rapids. Overcoming the rapid waters of the river, you can observe amazing landscapes on the coast - rocky cliffs, wild beaches and mysterious caves. By the way, eleven US parks are located on the territory of the Colorado Basin.

The main local attraction is the famous grand canyon, which is visited by five million tourists annually. The duration of commercial rafting on the Colorado River can be from one to eighteen days, depending on your desire. The waters of the river change in different parts of it - sometimes they are brown, sometimes green, which creates an incredible picture. During the rapid rafting, rafters can overcome several dozen rapids, getting a huge adrenaline rush.

Futaleufu River (Chile)

Futaleufu is fed by waters that are formed as a result of the melting of the glaciers of the Patagonian Andes. It flows through the territory of the magnificent national park Los Alerces in Chile, after which it passes through the territory of Argentina. The roaring river with turquoise deep waters is a great place for rafting. There are both calm sections suitable for beginners and level 5 rapids where professional rafters can test their strength. For days on end, you can conduct “battles” with stormy waters the Futaleufu River and all sorts of obstacles along the way.

San Kosi River (Nepal)

Nepal is a mountainous country with some of the highest mountain peaks in the world. Therefore, it is more suitable than any other for rafting. First of all, noteworthy is the long river in the country - San Kosi, which flows between the Himalayas and the Mahabharat range. The sensations and adrenaline that you can get by rafting down this river is definitely not for the faint of heart. There are Category 5 thresholds here that will be difficult for beginners to overcome. The surroundings of the river are very beautiful and picturesque - snow-white beaches and palm forests. alloy by mountain river usually lasts for six to ten days. Being in the mountains of Nepal, you can be far from civilization, feel unity with nature.

White Nile River (Uganda)

On the African continent, the White Nile River is also popular among rafters, which takes its waters from the calm Lake Victoria, but then gains strength and explodes, passing through the territory of Uganda and a number of other countries in a swift stream. But it is in Uganda that the most insidious and dangerous rapids of the fifth level of difficulty are present. Here you can rent modern equipment and use the services of a professional instructor. Beginners are offered a small water course, which tells about the basics of safety and features of overcoming the rapids.

Middle Salmon River (Idaho, USA)

Another swift river in North America, rafting on which can give you the most vivid impressions. It is located in the northwestern United States and originates in the mountainous part of Idaho. Rafting and kayaking are very developed on the Salmon River, as there are more than a hundred rapids of the third and fourth levels of difficulty and rapid water turns. The river itself flows through the picturesque canyons and steppe expanses of the "Wild West".

In Europe, the best and most dangerous places for rafting are considered routes in Italy, Croatia and Turkey. Although they can only offer moderate levels of difficulty for rafters, rafting on the local rivers can be very exciting and extreme. For example, rafting on the river Noce, which is fed by the waters of alpine glaciers. Conquering the most dangerous routes in search of unforgettable sensations and adrenaline, you should not lose your head and forget about your own safety.