Letter from Iceland

Letter from Iceland

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Letter from Iceland
Letter from Iceland
How Iceland Became a Nation of Swimmers
Iceland curios

How Iceland Became a Nation of Swimmers

The epic swim that inspired a cultural shift—and made swimming a national priority in Iceland

Alda Sigmundsdóttir's avatar
Alda Sigmundsdóttir
May 10, 2025
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Letter from Iceland
Letter from Iceland
How Iceland Became a Nation of Swimmers
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As many of you know, we Icelanders LOVE our swimming pools.

On a volcanic island where the water is heated through subterranean geothermal activity, hot water is plentiful—hence the proliferation of swimming pools in virtually every part of the country.

Our pools are our community centres. It is where we go to unwind, reset, meet up with friends, discuss…

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