Was the Hudson River ever swimmable?

The Hudson was notorious decades ago for being tainted by everything from industrial chemicals to old tires and sewer runoff. Even as late as 2004, when Swain swam the length of the river to encourage its continued cleanup, a New York Post headline read: Love That Dirty Water; Eco-Nut Swims The Slimy Hudson River.



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But the reason Lewis was terrified, was that he shouldn't have been able to swim across the North Pole in the first place. Two years previously, 23% of the Arctic ice cover had melted. He was swimming to draw the world's attention to the effect of climate crisis on the Arctic. The swim took 18 minutes and 50 seconds.

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The short answer is “Yes!” The long answer is that it depends on when and where. Issues like sewage outflow and algal blooms keep many areas along the Hudson from being swimmable, particularly after rainfall.

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An estimated 100,000 people in the Hudson Valley rely on the Hudson for their drinking water.

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The North Pole: FAQs It's only possible to travel to the North Pole by ship during June and July. Outside of these months, you can consider travelling by plane and helicopter, or by the hauled-sled route.

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The Mississippi River This once pristine waterway is perhaps the most polluted in the United States. Part of the problem stems from agriculture. The Mississippi River traverses much of America's heartland, drawing no end of runoff from factory farms. Animal waste isn't the only problem.

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Much of the Hudson's water is difficult to see through. A mere 1% of sunlight hitting the water's surface penetrates three feet down. This is largely the result of suspended soil, silt, and clay.

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Here are the five most polluted rivers in the world.
  • Ganges River, India: The Ganges River is a highly revered waterbody among Hindus. ...
  • Citarum River, Indonesia: The Citarum River in Indonesia is the second most polluted river in the world. ...
  • The Buriganga River. ...
  • Yellow River, China: ...
  • Mississippi River, United States:


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