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Europe's Lakes: Swim Safely This Summer
26 Jun
Summary
- Austria leads with 96.5% of lakes rated excellent for swimming.
- Finland boasts over 187,000 lakes suitable for bathing.
- Germany offers popular 'Strandbäder' with high water quality.
As heatwaves grip Europe, a recent ranking by Iglu Cruise identifies countries with the most lakes offering excellent, safe swimming conditions. The assessment utilized data from the European Environment Agency (EEA), focusing on officially designated and monitored bathing lakes under the EU Bathing Water Directive. The report evaluates water quality, ensuring it is safe for swimming.
Austria leads with 96.5% of its inland bathing waters rated as excellent. Its mountainous terrain contributes to pristine water quality in lakes like Lake Klopein and Attersee. Germany follows with 91.5% excellent water quality, featuring popular bathing facilities known as 'Strandbäder'. Lake Constance and Lake Walchensee are notable examples.
Finland, known as the 'land of a thousand lakes', has 94.7% of its bathing waters rated excellent. Its largest lake, Saimaa, is among Europe's biggest. Italy scores 87.7%, with warmer lakes like Lake Kaltern and the famed Lake Como. Switzerland also ranks high with 84.4% excellent bathing waters, including Lake Lugano, its warmest lake.
