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All Aboard! - Water Recreation Is Becoming More Popular

All Aboard! - Water Recreation Is Becoming More Popular

The legendary Kazanka – the most popular river transport

In recent years, cottages and cottage settlements located on the banks or in close proximity to the shores of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs with equipped beaches have become especially popular in Russia. That is, in Russia with its vast expanses, great water arteries (rivers), beautiful lakes, and extensive coastline, water is one of the archetypes of rest and tranquility. Therefore, the attraction to water is natural for our culture.

Interestingly, Emperor Alexander I in the last years of his life often said that he dreamed of abdicating the throne and retiring to live in a small house somewhere on the banks of the Rhine.

All existing types of water recreation can be divided into four large groups. The first group includes those that do not require special equipment, only human muscle strength – swimming, diving, speed swimming. The second group includes types of recreation that require simple equipment, but human muscle strength is used for movement or play on the water. These include, for example, water volleyball, rowing, swimming with fins and a mask.

The third group includes motorized types of recreation, in which, in particular, motorboats and boats are used for movement on water. The fourth group includes those types of water recreation in which the force of the elements (waves, wind) is used for movement – surfing and windsurfing.

Today it is hard to believe that in the USSR the first motorboat for mass consumption appeared on the open market only in 1955. It was the legendary Kazanka. Unfortunately, its early models had a number of significant design flaws that were successfully eliminated in subsequent modifications. Later modifications are still produced. Boats give a feeling of being part of the water expanses due to their proximity to water.

Quite another matter are motorboats, proudly and high rising above the surface of calm water. They are more platforms for water journeys of various durations than for water recreation. However, it is enough to find a suitable harbor and stop your vessel so that a water journey turns into water recreation for a while.

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