On Saturday morning, despite subzero temperatures, dozens of people gathered in Berlin to try "Christmas swimming" at Lake Orancke.
"Christmas swimming"
The water temperature was just 1.5 °C, and thin ice was already forming along the shoreline in the Alt-Ohne Schönhausen area.
The Berlin Ice Swimmers Association notes that since 1980 they meet every Sunday during winter for ice swimming, and they plan to return to the cold waters at the start of the new year.
"Berlin Ice Swimmers"
After the pandemic, ice swimming’s popularity surged, drawing new members and forcing the club to pause new enrollments for the time being.
