Zip lines give us a way to fly without wings. We strap on a belt, hook it to a long rope stretched between two places, and slide at top speed from one end to the other. Zip lines can run down a mountain or weave through the jungle. But one of our favorite zip lines takes you from one country to another. In the Spanish town of Sanlucar de Guadiana, you can ride a zip line that carries you across the Guadiana River to Alcoutim, Portugal. You start 328 feet above the river, and end 50 feet above the river, traveling more than 2,000 feet in less than a minute!
Wee ones: Can you count down from 3 to start a zip line trip?
Little kids: If it takes you 7 minutes to suit up for the zip line, 1 minute to ride it and 2 minutes to pull off the harness, how long does the whole adventure take? Bonus: If the zip line is 2,363 feet long, is that more or less than a mile (5,280 feet)?
Big kids: The zip line starts 328 feet above the river and ends just 50 feet above it. How many feet does the rider fall? Bonus: 328 feet is about as tall as a stack of 10 houses. About how many feet tall would each house be if they were all equal?
Answers:
Wee ones: Count out loud: 3, 2, 1!
Little kids: 10 minutes. Bonus: Less than a mile.
Big kids: 278 feet. Bonus: 33 feet.