STORY: This Chilean 'ice mermaid' completed the

longest ever swim in Antarctic waters


Location: Greenwich Island, Chile

Barbara Hernandez swam more than 1.5 miles

in roughly 45 minutes

She swam in water temperatures of 35.9°F

without a wetsuit or protective grease

[Barbara Hernandez, Chilean swimmer]

"The recovery was quite complex, I had considerable hypothermia, I reached a body temperature of 27 degrees Celsius (80.6 °F). To swim in these conditions you have to be very prepared, not only physically but also mentally. For three years we worked very hard to have this opportunity to complete this swim."

The 37-year-old psychologist did the swim

to raise awareness about climate change

and the importance of protecting

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean