Water Park

A water park is an Amusement Park that features waterplay areas, such as Water Slide s, Splash Pad s, spraygrounds (water playgrounds), lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing environments. Water parks in more current states of development may also be equipped with some type of artificial Surfing or Bodyboarding environment such as a Wave Pool or a FlowRider .

EVOLUTION OF WATERPARKS

The very idea for a water park may have been inspired by a Hungarian Spa . Some waterparks are more spa-oriented, e.g. Schwaben Quellen, a member of European Waterparks Association (EWA) has no water slides, but instead has lots of saunas, steam rooms, "adventure showers", and relaxation-oriented waterplay areas.

Waterparks emerging from spas continue to more closely resemble mountain resorts as they become four-season destinations. Therefore the whole amusement and leisure time industry is getting even more concentrated as the winter sports are mixing up with the summertime water rides - in time and space. A process of concentration can be observed in the hybrid segments of theme-, amusement-, and waterparks.

Waterparks have become increasingly popular since the 1950's. The United States has the largest and most concentrated waterpark market, with over a thousand waterparks currently and dozens of new parks opening each year. Major organizations are IAAPA (International Associotion of Amusement Parks and Attractions; www.iaapa.org ) and WWA (World Waterpark Association; www.waterparks.org ).

With 18 indoor water parks, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin , is recognized as the "Water Park Capital of the World." It boasts America's largest indoor and outdoor water parks -- see Noah's Ark and Kalahari Resort ).

INDOOR WATER PARKS

Indoor waterparks were a phenomenon that started in the Wisconsin Dells in the 1990s but have since caught on quickly in many areas. Usually resort hotels featuring massive indoor waterparks that are often reserved exclusively for overnight guests, companies like Great Wolf Resorts and Kalahari Resorts have branched out from their origin in the Dells to open new locations around the country.

WATER PARK-LIKE SPACES

Spaces that are similar to waterparks include spas (a continuum from the original evolution of waterparks from spas), Urban Beach es, and Splash Pad s, as well as smaller waterplay areas such as waterslides in many hotels and public pools. For example, the Delta Chelsea hotel in Toronto features a four story waterslide called the "corkscrew".

WATER PARK LOCATIONS

Australia

Magic Mountain in Adelaide , South Australia

Canada

Magic Mountain in Moncton , New Brunswick

Soak City , which is part of Ontario Place , in Toronto

Wild Water Kingdom in Brampton, Ontario

World Waterpark in West Edmonton Mall - the largest indoor waterpark in North America

Finland

Serena Aqua Park in Espoo , near the Finnish capital Helsinki , the biggest indoor water amusement park in Europe, also a large outdoor section, many different pools and slides, a Sauna

Almost every Finnish Spa has also a big water park department

Germany

Schwaben Quellen in Stuttgart , Baden-Württemberg ("Schwabia Fountains" in English), a member of European Waterparks Association (EWA)

Tropical Islands in Briesen , Brandenburg with the largest tropical indoor pool in the world

India

Essel World in Mumbai

Kishkinda in Chennai , Tamil Nadu - if one's in Madras, it's a must see.

Tikuji-Ni-Wadi in Thane , Maharashtra - water park isn't so bad!!

Japan

Ocean Dome in Miyazaki - the world's largest indoor waterpark

Malaysia

Sunway Lagoon in Kuala Lumpur

Netherlands

Tikibad in Wassenaar

Russia

Transvaal Park in Moscow - in 2004 27 people were killed when a roof collapsed

Sweden

Aqua Nova in Borlänge

Gustavsvik in Örebro

Nordpoolen in Boden

Paradisbadet in Örnsköldsvik

United Arab Emirates

Dreamland Aqua Park in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain

Wild Wadi Water Park in Jumeirah , Emirate of Dubai

United Kingdom

Cariba Creek - a water park located at the Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire , England . Residents of the on-site hotels get free admission to the water park.