Andes

The Andes or Andean Mountains is among the world's longest mountain ranges and is located along South America's western side. Its varied terrain encompasses glaciers, volcanoes, grassland, desert, lakes and forest. The mountains shelter pre-Columbian archaeological sites and wildlife including chinchillas and condors. From Venezuela in the north, the range passes through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.

Open Water Swimming

• High-altitude Ice Miles are attempted in the lake adjacent to Ski Portillo in the Valparaíso Region.
  • First by Bárbara Hernández Huerta of Chile
  • Second by Ger Kennedy of Ireland.
• Bárbara Hernández Huerta of Chile completed 7.5 km high-altitude swim across Chungará Lake in 10°C water on 28 November 2020 in the Andes Mountains in 2 hours 11 minutes.
• Australian Daniel Bull swam at 6,370 meters high up in the Andes in 2020.

Lago Titicaca Swim Expedition Swimmers, Observers, and Pilots

John Zemaitis and Joe Zemaitis organized and led the Lago Titicaca Swim Expedition on Lake Titicaca in Bolivia in March 2026.

• On 16 March 2026, the following swimmers completed a 15.2 km unassisted skin swim in 16°F water at 3,811 meters between the shores of Copacabana to the foot of the ruins of the 15th century Temple of the Sun on Lago Titicaca in Bolivia:
  • Dina Levačić (29, Croatia) 5 hours 3 minutes 9 seconds observed by John Zemaitis, piloted by Maximo Mamani
  • Yulia Ovodkova (41, Russia) 7 hours 33 minutes 23 seconds observed by Andrey Bozhko, piloted by Ovidio Mendoza
  • Sarah Roberts (42, USA) 5 hours 58 minutes 42 seconds observed by Joe Zemaitis, piloted by Ismael Mendoza
• On 17 March 2026, the following swimmers completed a 15.2 km unassisted skin swim in 16°F water at 3,811 meters between the shores of Copacabana to the foot of the ruins of the 15th century Temple of the Sun on Lago Titicaca in Bolivia:
  • Sarah Thomas (43, USA]) 4 hours 42 minutes 36 seconds observed by Corey Murphey, piloted by Ismael Mendoza
  • Andrey Bozhko (39, Russia]) 6 hours 7 minutes 15 seconds observed by Yuliya Ovodkova, piloted by Juan Callisaya
  • Ashley Husmoe (18, USA]) 5 hours 54 minutes 48 seconds observed by Joe Zemaitis, piloted by Ovidio Mendoza
• On 18 March 2026, the following swimmers completed a 30.4 km unassisted skin swim in 16°F water at 3,811 meters between the shores of Copacabana to the foot of the ruins of the 15th century Temple of the Sun on Lago Titicaca in Bolivia:
  • Corey Murphey (35, USA) 9 hours 30 minutes 39 seconds observed by Sarah Thomas, piloted by Ovidio Mendoza
  • Joe Zemaitis (45, USA) 11 hours 59 minutes 27 seconds observed by Gerald George, piloted by Ismael Mendoza
• On 18 March 2026, the following swimmers completed a 15.2 km unassisted skin swim in 16°F water at 3,811 meters between the shores of Copacabana to the foot of the ruins of the 15th century Temple of the Sun on Lago Titicaca in Bolivia:
  • Andrew Packer (31, USA) 4 hours 57 minutes 19 seconds observed by Sarah Roberts, piloted by Juan Callisaya
  • Maggie Regan (33, USA) 5 hours 26 minutes 12 seconds observed by John Zemaitis, piloted by Ronald Mamani
• In March 2026, Gerald George, Anel Sytdykova, Kazakhstan and Angelina Calderon attempted a 15.2 km unassisted skin swim in 16°F water at 3,811 meters between the shores of Copacabana to the foot of the ruins of the 15th century Temple of the Sun.

External links

• Swimming at 3,811 meters in the 16°C Waters of Lake Titicaca
• Stève Stievenart Inducted as an Honor Swimmer in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
• Stève Stievenart Does a High-Altitude Ice Mile in the Andes
• Sol y Luna, High-altitude Swimming at 3,811 meters (12,503 feet) in Lake Titicaca
• Jean Craven and Madswimmer Dip at 6,405m in the Himalayas
• Jean Craven Talks About The Sky Is The Limit, Starting Friday
• The Sky Is The Limit: How to Swim in the Himalayas
• Madswimmer website
• The Sky Is The Limit, an Extreme High-Altitude Swim with Jean Craven and Madswimmer
• High-Altitude Swims Around The World
• Bárbara Hernández Huerta, The Ice Mermaid, Crosses Lake Chungará At 4,560m
• The Swimming Life Of Bárbara Hernández Huerta
• Open Water Swimming
• Sirena De Hielo Does Ice Swim Calving
• Bárbara Hernández Huerta, La Sirena De Hielo
• Bárbara Hernández Huerta, La Sirena De Hielo