Seine River Opened for Public Swimming in Paris

In France, there is a massive river known as the Seine that runs through most of Northern France. It also cuts through the city of Paris, running through the beautiful city. If one were to take a swim at one of the locations on the river, not only would it be refreshing, but they would also be treated to a beautiful and clear view of the world-famous Eiffel Tower.

Unfortunately, taking a dip in that river would be illegal. The Seine has been closed to the public for swimming for more than a hundred years. The river has long been closed due to its heavy pollution, which may have caused diseases or injury. However, in light of how Paris was going to host the next Olympic Games, the city decided that such a river would not be safe to swim in. So about £1.2bn (about 1.6 billion USD) was invested in cleaning up the murky waters.

Now, three locations along the banks of the river (Bras Marie, Bercy, and Grenelle) have been opened up for public swimming. Officials say that special precautions have been taken to ensure the river is safe for entry, with lifeguards and daily pollution tests. Currently, the available swim spots are equipped with changing rooms, showers, for about 300 people to relax comfortably. All guests are permitted to swim, but only if they fall within the 10-14 minimum age requirement, as the individual age requirements depend on the location.