A raft is a boat that is usually built by joining wood.
A raft is a structure that, generally built from the union of wood, is used as a boat . By extension, the inflatable boat that is used in emergencies when a larger boat is at risk of shipwreck is also called a raft.
The rafts have a flat shape and can be developed in different ways. In addition to wood, different kinds of boards , reeds or even synthetic substances can be used.
The history of rafts goes back several millennia. Since ancient times, man has built rafts to float and navigate rivers, seas, lakes, streams, lagoons and all types of bodies of water.
Types of raft
It is important to know that there are different types of rafts, among which we can highlight the following:
- Wooden balsa , which, as its name indicates, is made with wood. This type of boat can be found in small towns to undertake short trips along the river to, for example, carry bulky materials from shore to shore. That's without overlooking that. In literary works, films and television series where castaways appear, it is common for these characters to decide to cut tree trunks and make a raft to escape from the island where they are.
- Raft made of synthetic materials , which give it great stability and buoyancy capacity. In this group we find recreational rafts that can be used on beaches, swamps and lakes and rafts that are used for descending rivers.
There are rafts made of synthetic materials.
a kind of wood
Balsa wood , on the other hand, is that obtained from the Ochroma pyramidale tree . It stands out for its low density: it is a wood that is even lighter than cork.
Originally from South America , it is valued for its rapid growth and for its qualities for the development of acoustic and thermal insulation.
The raft as a hole
Another use of the concept of raft refers to the hole in a surface that, whether artificially or naturally, is filled with water .
A pond, in this framework, can be a work of hydraulic engineering that is developed to store water and that has a dam to retain it.
The term in biology
A lipid raft or lipid raft , on the other hand, is a molecular microdomain found in the plasma membrane.
Compared to its surroundings , this pond has less fluidity.
Raft in popular culture
We cannot ignore the existence of certain popular expressions that use the term in question. This would be the case, for example, of "oil pond" . This phrase is used in some regions to mean that a person, an animal, a situation or an event is calm. For example: "After his parents' reprimand for his rebellious and immature action, the minor's attitude was a real raft of oil."
“La balsa” , finally, is the name of a song that is considered foundational in Argentine rock. It was composed by Litto Nebbia and Tanguito and recorded by Los Gatos in 1967 .