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Image: New Year celebration in Scheveningen

World

'Polar bear' swimmers brave frosty waters for New Year's dips

Despite some freezing temperatures, hardy swimmers around the world took the traditional New Year's Day plunge.

/ 13 PHOTOS
Image: Swimmers run into the water of the Atlantic Ocean during the Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year's Day Plunge on Coney Island Beach in Brooklyn, New York City

New York City

Swimmers run into the ocean at Coney Island in Brooklyn. 

The air temperature was around 20 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of the 114th Coney Island polar bear plunge. 

— Stephanie Keith / Reuters
Julie Payette,Joel Thomas Hynes

Canada

Swimmers take the \"polar bear\" plunge in Perth, Ontario, as the air temperature hovered around -5 degrees Fahrenheit.
— Patrick Doyle / Canadian Press via AP
Image: L Street Brownies New Year's Day Swim

Boston

"Polar Bear" swimmers take part in the L Street Brownies New Year's Day Swim in Dorchester Bay. According to L Street officials, the air temperature was -2 degrees Farenheit degrees and the water temperature was 28 degrees Farenheit.

— CJ Gunther / EPA
Image: New Year celebration in Scheveningen

Netherlands

Swimmers run into the North Sea in Scheveningen.

— Bart Maat / EPA
Image:

Canada

A man jumps off a wharf into the Atlantic Ocean during the Herring Cove Polar Bear Dip in Nova Scotia.
— Darren Calabrese / Canadian Press via AP
Image: Members of the Berliner Seehunde ice swimmers club take a dip in lake Orankesee during their traditional New Year swimming event in Berlin

Germany

Members of the Berlin Seals ice swimmers club take a dip in lake Orankesee during their traditional New Year's Day event.

— Hannibal Hanschke / Reuters
Image: TOPSHOT-FRANCE-NEW-YEAR

France

Bathers take part in the traditional "Bain de Givres" at Malo-Les-Bains beach in Dunkirk.

— Philippe Huguen / AFP - Getty Images
Image: New Year's Day Bathers Take Part In The Loony Dook Swim

Scotland

Swimmers in costumes stand in front of the Forth Rail Bridge during the annual Loony Dook Swim in South Queensferry.

— Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
Image: Simone Carabella of Italy dives into the Tiber River from the Cavour bridge, as part of traditional New Year celebrations in Rome

Rome

A diver leaps into the Tiber River from Ponte Cavour bridge.

— Tony Gentile / Reuters
Image: New Year's Swim on Norderney island

Germany

Swimmers gather on the beach of Norderney Island, northern Germany.

More than 300 swimmers welcomed 2018 with a dip in the North Sea where water temperatures were around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

— Focke Strangmann / EPA
Image: First bath of the year in Lisbon

Portugal

Locals take their first dip of the year at Carcavelos beach in Lisbon.

— Jose Seana Goulao / EPA
Image: Annual New Year's Swim in Szigliget

Hungary

Swimmers run into the chilly water of Lake Balaton in Szigliget.

— Gyorgy Varga / EPA
Image: SLOVENIA-NEW-YEAR

Slovenia

Women jump into the water in Portoroz.

Photos: Hello 2018! Ringing in the New Year around the world

— Jure Makovec / AFP - Getty Images
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