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Swimming Lessons in the Rhine

August 1, 2016

A river swimming school offers participants a supervised swim along the Rhine’s powerful currents, against the idyllic backdrop of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley.

https://p.dw.com/p/1JZlp
Lifeguard Katharina Dauer swims in the Rhine with Dirk Melzer from the river swimming school "Cubalido".
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Arnold

During the weekend courses, the swimming school "Cubalido" in the town of Kaub also provides three hours of theory lessons with lifeguards. Swimming in the Rhine can be life-threatening due to the unpredictable currents.

The course climaxes in a two-kilometer swim in the direction of the current; it’s too powerful to swim against. The participants are accompanied by lifeguards from the DLRG (German Life Saving Association). Because of the high number of large boats sailing down the Rhine, the swimming school needed a special permit from the authorities.

The two-day courses will take place this year on August 13th and 14th, as well as August 27th and 28th.

The Upper Middle Rhine Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its numerous castles and palaces. The river swimming school is only a few kilometers away from the famous Lorelei rock.

le/nr (dpa)