On July 1, 2016, the biggest leisure and entertainment park in Turkey – dubbed by guests as a “world-class destination” – opened in Belek, Antalya. The US$1 billion Land of Legends is a joint venture between Rixos World Parks & Entertainment (Serik, Turkey), Emaar Real Estate (Dubai, U.A.E.) and global cultural creativity brand Dragone Productions (La Louvière, Belgium).
Covering 639,000 square meters (6,878,139 square feet), the waterpark attractions at the facility, named “The Legends of Aqua,” was supplied by Polin Waterparks (Istanbul, Turkey). The facility’s developers considered the inclusion of a waterpark to be a key element in ensuring guests were fully entertained at the complex, which includes retail, luxury housing and theater, among other entertainment offerings.
Significant among the attractions is the first collaboration between Polin Waterparks and the WOW Company to include one of WOW’s Wave Ball low-energy wave-generating machines – the first Wave Ball in a Waterpark in Turkey.
Polin Waterparks and WOW worked together on the design of a 200-square-meter (656-square-foot) customized pool that incorporated one of WOW’s small Wave Balls (Model W130F). The ball generates different wave patterns over which users have complete control, including both frequency and size. In The Legends of Aqua pool, for example, the Wave Ball can generate waves up to 0.60 meters (1.9 feet) based on the resonance effect the ball produces within the pool’s borders.
To guests, the Wave Ball looks like a simple polyester sphere floating on the surface of the pool’s water. But the ball’s complex electronics are far from simple. It’s development required the expertise of specialists with a wide range of knowledge, from fluid physics and mathematical modeling to mechanics, electronics and data processing brought thanks to 25 years experience.
The ball works by generating secure, controlled artificial waves with a stationary deviation in swell that makes the experience safe for even the youngest guests. But, thanks to several programs available, park managers have the option to significantly increase the size of the waves to deliver a thrilling ocean like experience, as well.
The Wave Ball can be customized and integrated into an existing pool, or it can be created within new pool installations. WOW and Polin engineers can help create unique and unusual designs that offer their own special benefits. For example, at The Legends of Aqua, the customized shape of the pool allows the user to create ripples in only one half of the pool. In addition, you can add a saddle to the ball and operate it in “rodeo mode.”
Unlike some wave-making equipment, the Wave Ball does not limit swimmers to only certain areas of the pool. Instead, swimmers have access to the entire pool, including the area immediately surrounding the Wave Ball. This advantage is due to the ball’s “up and down” movement, which creates “repulsing” waves that automatically keep swimmers at a close, but completely safe, distance and allowing the pool to be used to its maximum extent.
Paolo Danubio, sales manager at WOW, says his company expects this first collaboration with Polin Waterparks to be only the beginning. “Working together, our two companies can create many more growth opportunities. And these won’t simply benefit our individual firms but also those of our clients and their guests,” he explains. “After all, we’ll be able to ensure that waterparks offer the most exciting rides that keep guests happy – and keep guests returning over and over. Because nothing is more attractive to guests than an experience that is fun and changes every time they visit.”
