Carlos Peña – Actively for the protection of environment and nature

The Spaniard Carlos Peña from the Basque Country draws attention to the necessary protection of rivers and lakes in a very unconventional manner. Swimming hundred of kilometres backstroke and wearing a neoprene suit, Carlos Peña often faces rough waves and low temperatures. He is not seeking gold medals, he only wants to call attention to the environmental problems of the respective water body.

It all began in 1989, when he swam 200 km in the Ebro River from Logroño to Zaragoza. Since then he crosses lakes, swims in rivers and even straits all over the world. Among those already crossed are Loch Ness, Lake Garda, the Straits of Gibraltar and Magellan as well as numerous Spanish and South American water bodies.

In 2004, the Living Lakes partner organisation "Sociedad Amigos del Lago de Chapala“ in Mexico proposed Carlos Peña to swim as a sign of protest against the contamination of Lake Chapala. Thus the contact with the Living Lakes network had been established and other Living Lakes followed.

July 2011

In 24 hours across the Oria River: New successful swimming action of Carlos Peña

52,000 meters – this distance overcame in 24 hours the Spanish swimmer Carlos Peña and hence gathered 1,000 Euros. This time, he swam in the River Oria in the Spanish Basque Country. The river originates in the Sierra de Aitzkorri in the province of Gipuzkoa and flows into the Bay of Biscay. Its length comes to 66 km.

The sum gathered during the action will be donated to the Spanish organisation Asociación de Esclerosis Múltiple de Gipuzkoa ADEMGI.

Dead Sea - September 2008

Carlos Peña crossed the Dead Sea in September 2008 and with it, his seventh Living Lakes. He swam 60 km in five stages with a water temperature of 35 degrees and an outside temperature of 46 degrees. Carlos Peña’s comment: "It felt like swimming in the dessert. The water with its extremely high salt concentration, as well as magnesium, potassium, bromine and sulphur felt like dish washing water".

Following, all lakes of the netowrk Living Lakes are listened, through which Carlos Peña swam.

Lake Chapala - Mexico

Lake Balaton - Hungary

Mar Chiquita - Argentina

Trasimeno Lake - Italy

Lake Constance - Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Dead Sea - Israel, Jordan and Palestine

2004

2005

2006

June 2007

September 2007

September 2008

At the shore of Lake Constance

On 16 September 2007, Carlos Peña arrived at the fair "Fokus Natur" at the shore in Radolfzell. In three stages, he covered successfully the whole distance of 63 km from Lindau via Friedrichshafen and Constance.

Further information about Carlos Peña you find under: www.carlospeña.com