Polar bear swim is very old tradition in Various parts of U.S.A and Canada. People jumps in icy water in lakes and river on the first day of Every Year.

You can call them brave or crazy, but a record crowd kicked off the new year by taking a dip in the Potomac River organized by Williamsport Polar Bear Club.
The Polar Bear Plunge is a 91 year old tradition in Milwaukee. But there are several people who came to the lakefront for the first time this year.

One couple wanted to start the new year off with a bang, since they're getting married this summer. "Now I know he's committed if he's doing this with me," She said. For every person who was doing this for the first time, there were plenty of experienced plungers. But even they were shocked by today's cold, icebergs, and ocean sized waves. "I've never been in this kind of weather before," 15 time plunger Rob Rusch of Cedarburg said.


There were some 420 people joined the annual call to conquer the frigid waters of Lake Ontario. Polar bear dip was organized by Oakville. There was -6 C land temperatures at lake.


In Canada, New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim began in 1920. It was Peter Pantages, who organized the Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club with 10 members. Every year there was increase in participation, so the Polar Bear Swim Club used the Vancouver Swimming Club headquarters just west of the English.

The coldest water temperature recorded during this period was 3°C (38°F) in 1928. This temperature has since been recorded twice in 1982 and 1985. The water temperature averages 6°C (43°F) and has varied from the low of 3°C (38°F) to a high of 9°C (48°F) in 1992, 2000 and 2005.