As a heatwave continues to pummel Europe, plunging into a refreshing lake or river seems like the only sensible thing to do right now.
But, tempting as these bodies of water are, many are not safe for bathing. As temperatures broke records in several cities across France this week, the country reported 40 people had drowned while swimming in unsupervised areas.
“There is a tragic scourge of drownings,” Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Tuesday. “The latest figures we’ve received are 40 deaths since 18 June. Most of the victims are young people.”
If you want to take a dip, you can do so safely by choosing only swimming spots that are supervised and paying attention to warning signs about water quality, strong currents or submerged hazards like tree branches and other debris.
Europe’s best lakes for safe wild swimming
