The term kayak is derived from the Greenlandic word qajaq (IPA: [qajaq]). A classic kayak features a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each of which seats one paddler. Modern kayaks are often designed with multiple seating areas for up to four people in parallel. There are many different types of kayaks for different purposes, from general-purpose sit-on-tops to highly specialized whitewater craft. Kayaking is a popular form of recreation and transportation in many parts of the world. It is also used by scientists to explore aquatic environments in detail not accessible by other means. In addition, kayakers participate in races to test their speed on water. Finally, kayaks are employed as vessels for fishing and other activities under the water's surface. The first known record of the use of kayaks dates back to 1616 in Greenland. They were made from skin stretched over a frame of wood and sealskin blankets were used to cover the kayaks when they were not in use. In 1770, an Englishman named William Smith invented the self-bailing kayak after he saw Native Americans using inflated animal skins to paddle around lakes and rivers in Canada. He took this idea back to England where it became popular among travelers and fishermen seeking a way to travel across bodies of water without getting wet.