The Atlantis Bahamas Resort was already an icon among Caribbean resorts: with its one-of-a-kind Atlantis-themed architecture, its gigantic aquariums, acres of "waterscape" with shark lagoons and pools with manta-rays, giant thrill waterslides, special waterplay zone for little kids, kids' pool with slide and waterfalls, sheltered lagoon with beach and aqua-trikes -- not to mention its famous casino, a marina, and shopping village.
But at the Atlantis "more is beautiful", and much more opened in 2007.
AQUAVENTURE is a 63-acre waterscape that redefines the "river float", adds more thrill waterslides, and throws in special effects such as smoke, fire, and fog.
The Current - River Ride: get on your inner tube and get ready for a mile-long ride: propelled by water escalators, waves, surges...
you can even ride up the water-slide tower along a conveyor.
The Current has nearly 3 million gallons of water, 7-foot high lifts and drops, and an area of white-water Rapids. Guests can float along or divert to the waterslides. The tower slides, and The Rapids loop, all flow into zero-entry pools, where guests can exit or keep on going through an 80-foot underground tunnel and caves. You never need to stop.
Power Tower waterslides: 120 feet tall, with four ways down (and a 48" minimum height for riders):
The Abyss: drop 50 near-vertical feet through the center of the Tower into total darkness, then on through a waterfall, to a cenote "filled with menacing Alligator Gars"
The Drop, The Falls: Both these inner-tube slides can be accessed from the river: guests ride a conveyor up to the 58-foot-high level, then slide down. Special “master-blaster” technology that makes a roller coaster effect, as jets of water propel riders up and down. The Drop spirals through the dark center of the Power Tower; The Falls plummets down 58 feet and then propels riders up through twists and turns.
The Surge: another tube slide, starts at the top of the Power Tower (stairs up), with a drop into a cavern, and a flash flood.
Special Effects: Both the Power Tower and The Current use special effects in the dark: be surprised by fire, water, smoke and fog, and some high-tech video effects.
Pools: AQUAVENTURE has two fresh-water pools: The Grotto Pool, the largest pool at The Atlantis, and The Baths, with hieroglyphic columns and special rockwork. There are several tidal pools, too (always a hit with little kids.)
Autor: Teresa Plowright
Source: about.com
