Swimming Articles

Discover the Park – Activities

Wave Watch buoys reveal dramatic water temperature swings in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Wave Watch buoys reveal dramatic water temperature swings in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

These may be the longest days of summer, but you'll definitely want to know current wave and water temperature conditions before you jump in for a swim or head out in your kayaak. Due to a relatively cool spring, the largest freshwater lake in the world is about 5 degrees behind normal averages in warming at the surface. The difference between an invigorating swim and potentially life-threatening hypothermia is literally a matter of degrees and timing. And our Wave Watch buoys verify just how quickly conditions can change. Lake Superior's deep-water temperture is 39 degrees year-round but at...

Ahead of holiday weekend, Wisconsin DNR encourages paddlers, boaters to wear PFDs

Ahead of holiday weekend, Wisconsin DNR encourages paddlers, boaters to wear PFDs

Wearing a personal flotation device when you're boating can literally be a life saver. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources made that point today, in releasing a report on boating fatalities so far during 2021. All six people had one thing in common: none wore PFDs. Of the six, two were kayakers, two were canoeists and two were in motorboats. In a news release, DNR Boating Law Administrator Darren Kuhn said, “Safety is an important part of water fun. Most drowning victims on Wisconsin waterbodies were not wearing life jackets.” The DNR says operator inexperience, inattention,...