Europe's amusement parks prepare new attractions for a sizzling summer

(Legoland)

More than 150 million of us are expected to pile into amusement parks in Europe this summer, according to the body that represents them.

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions says that over 35 new attractions are set to open this year, ranging from a new water battle in Germany's biggest theme park to the world's first free fall drop roller coaster in Britain.

Other highlights include The Temple archaeological treasure hunt in Legoland Billund in Denmark, two new polar bears in France's Marineland park, Italy's highest water ride at the Etnaland, and Switzerland's first looping water slide at Aquaparc in Le Bouveret.

New attractions opening for summer 2010:

Austria
Wave, Wörgl (L2 water ride) - www.woerglerwasserwelt.at

Belgium 
Plopsacoo, Coo (Mega Mindy Flyer, family attraction, carousel) - www.plopsa.be/plopsacoo 
Plopsaland, De Panne, (Plop's Wood family attraction) - www.plopsa.be/plopsalanddepanne 

Denmark
Bakken, Klampenborg (renovated roller coaster) - www.bakken.dk  
Bon Bon Land, Holme Olstrup (Svend Svingarm carousel) - www.bonbonland.dk  
Djurs Sommerland, Nimtofte (Sable family attraction) - www.djurssommerland.dk  
LEGOLAND, Billund (The Temple, family attraction) - www.legoland.dk 
Fårup Sommerland, Saltum (The Foxhole, family attraction) - www.faarupsommerland.dk   
Tivoli Friheden, Aarhus (Frihedskarusellen, Sving-Gyngerne carousels) - www.tivolifriheden.dk 
Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, (Petzi World playground) - www.tivoli.dk 

Finland 
Linnanmäki, Helsinki (Pilotti, children's ride) - www.linnanmaki.fi 
Särkänniemi, Tampere, (MotoGee roller coaster) - www.sarkanniemi.fi 

France 
Futuroscope, Poitiers, (Arthur, family attraction) - www.futuroscope.com 
Marineland, Antibes (new polar bears) - www.marineland.fr 
Walt Disney Studios, Paris (Toy Story Playland, family attraction) - www.disneylandparis.com 

Germany 
Europa Park, Rust (Whale Adventure, family attraction) - www.europapark.de 
Hannover Zoo, Hannover (Australian Outback and Yukon Bay sections) - www.zoo?hannover.de 
Hansa Park, Sierksdorf (Curse of Novgorod, roller coaster) - www.hansapark.de 
Heide Park, Soltau (Bucht der Totenkopfpiraten  family attraction) - www.heidepark.de 
Movie Park, Bottrop?Kirchhellen (show) - www.moviepark.de 
Phantasialand, Brühl (The Return of the Magic Show) - www.phantasialand.de 
Ravensburger Spieleland, Meckenbeuren (new rides) - www.spieleland.de 
Ring°Werk, Nürburgring (roller coaster) - www.nuerburgring.de/ft/ringwerk?action?museum.html 

Italy 
Etnaland, Belpasso (water ride) - www.etnaland.eu 

Netherlands 
Efteling, Kaatsheuvel (Joris en de Draak, roller coaster) - www.efteling.nl 
Toverland, Sevenum, Netherlands (Scorpios, family attraction) - www.toverland.nl
Plopsa Indoor, Coevorden, New Park (new theme park) - www.plopsa.be/plopsaindoorhasselt/fr 

Norway 
Dyreparken Kristiansand, Kristiansand, (new water park) - www.dyreparken.no 
Tusenfryd, Vinterbrö (Nightmare show) - www.tusenfryd.no 

Sweden 
Astrid Lindgrens Värld, Vimmerby (resort) - www.alv.se  
Gröna Lund, Stockholm (Tuff Tuff Taget children's ride) - www.gronalund.com 
Liseberg, Gothenburg (new childrens' rides) - www.liseberg.se  
Parken Zoo, Eskilstuna (Pirate Musical family attraction) - www.parkenzoo.se  

Switzerland 
Aquaparc, Le Bouveret (water ride) - www.aquaparc.ch 

United Kingdom 
Alton Towers, Alton (TH13TEEN roller coaster) - www.altontowers.com 
Chessington Worlds of Adventures (Wild Asia family attraction) - www.chessington.com 
Thorpe Park, Cleethorpes (SAW Alive maze attraction) - www.thorpepark.com