Скачать или смотреть Hwacheon water festival splashes into summer fun 물의나라 화천 쪽배축제 개막

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In the northern part of Gangwon Province, a hot spot has emerged for iconic festivals, ones ranging from tomato wrestling to winter ice fishing.

Keeping with the tradition, Hwacheon County is now hosting its annual rafting festival.

Our Paul Yi dives head first into the aquatic festivities. Pumping over 37-hundred liters of water per minute, this recreational jet pack allows users to fly through the air at speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour.

The James Bond-inspired jet pack uses high-pressure water streams to float would-be rocketeers at a maximum height of nine meters for up to four hours.

It's just one of the many activities available here at the Hwacheon Jjokbae Festival in Gangwon Province.

"You're really flying up into the sky. It's definitely appealing. Although it looks difficult, anybody who receives about 15 to 30 minutes of training can do it."

The water sports-themed festival is named after the small Korean rafts that are deeply rooted in traditional folklore.

Held near the Bungeoseom Island area, the popular festival kicked off earlier this week under the theme, "Clear and Abundant Water of Hwacheon."

Another featured water activity at the 16-day long event is cable skiing.

Unlike traditional water skiing, where someone is pulled by a motorboat, cable skiing allows wakeboarders to be pulled by a series of electric-powered cables.

"One advantage is that it's eco-friendly because it uses electricity, which means people can go for an inexpensive ride. It's such a popular sport overseas that it's being considered as an event at the 2020 Olympics."

There's also plenty of exciting activities for land lovers that want to stay high and dry.

Cross-river zip-lines give participants the chance to feel the wind rushing through their hair.

"I feel like I'm trembling here because I don't know if I can do this. No wait,... I think I'm able to go through with this. I totally believe in myself. Okay, let's go "

Outdoor music concerts, kayaking tours and paddle boardz rentals are all part of the festival as well.

It's a great way to stay cool this summer, but you may want to get that bathing suit ready soon... as the festival ends on August 11th.

Paul Yi, Arirang News.