Spanish entertainment complex Dinopolis – which combines dinosaur-inspired rides, exhibitions and a play area with a centre for paleontological studies – is set to launch a new educational ride on 1 June 2006.

El Ultimo Minuto (The Last Minute) will illustrate the evolution of humans from primate to modern day and introduce many of the animals that have existed since the time of the dinosaurs.

The new attraction will be a water ride with six six-passenger boats.

From the explosion of meteors thought to have ended the dinosaur period, visitors will travel through scenes depicting life through the ages, including encounters with woolly mammoths, saber-toothed tigers and a huge pre-historic bear.

El Ultimo Minuto will be located in a new building being constructed as part of a 2006 expansion phase of Dinopolis.

The ride will be designed by CB Ocio of Spain, while dark ride and animatronics firm Sally Corporation will be providing 39 animatronic characters, five static figures, sound tracks, special effects and lighting.

Howard Kelley, president of the Sally Corporation, said: “This is one of Sally’s most ambitious undertakings, because of the requirement for museum-quality work on such a large scale.

“One thing that’s very different is that we will have constant professional oversight and guidance from the Spanish scientific community.” Details: www.dinopolis.com, www.sallycorp.com