PROFILE AMERICA

June 21st, 2008

Polar Bear Swim

Friday, June 21st -- On this first full day of summer, it’s hard to think of a polar bear swim — one of those outings where slightly crazy people, usually wearing strange costumes, plunge into chilly waters in the middle of the winter. But today in Nome, Alaska, where it will be daylight pretty much all around the clock, the 33rd annual Polar Bear Swim will be held. Dozens of swimmers will jump into the frigid Bering Sea — if the ice has broken up enough to allow the event. Farther south, swimmers of all ages are enjoying warmer waters across the nation — from lakes, rivers, and oceans to swimming pools. Swimming is our second favorite recreational activity — with 58 million people taking the plunge at least six times a year. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at www.census.gov.