Baltic Sea Day celebrated with largest swim event at Hietaranta beach in Helsinki

On August 29, the Baltic Sea Day was celebrated, a project initiated by the John Nurminen Foundation focused on protecting the Baltic Sea. Events and activities were organized across Finland to raise awareness about the sea’s nature, culture, and history.

As part of the day’s program, the foundation encouraged people to take a dip in the water at six o’clock in the evening. The event, dubbed Finland’s largest swim, attracted participants to the Hietaranta beach in Helsinki. Video footage showed dozens of children and adults splashing together, accompanied by a group of mermaids.

Maija Soljanlahti from the John Nurminen Foundation estimated that around 80 to 100 people took part in the swim. She emphasized the significance of the event by noting that “90 million Europeans live in the Baltic Sea drainage area. It is important to have a day each year when we all reflect on it.”