Soaring over the Thames: Cable car takes flight

[June 28, 2012]  LONDON (AP) -- London's new cable car will be taking visitors to the river -- but presumably will not drop them in the water.

The ski-lift like system began soaring over the Thames River on Thursday, offering a bird's-eye view of the London landscape and catering to the tourists expected for the Olympics.

The cable car will make the half-mile (one kilometer) crossing between Greenwich and the Royal Docks, allowing visitors to take in the views of Olympic Park, the Canary Wharf financial center and the Thames Barrier, massive structures in the river that keep London from flooding.

It is called the Emirates Air Line, after the air carrier invested 36 million pounds ($56 million) as part of a 10-year sponsorship deal.

The games take place from July 27-Aug. 12.

[Associated Press]

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