Joseph Heß, a long-distance swimmer from Dresden, plans to set out on a record-breaking mission on Friday. He intends to swim the length of the Danube from Ulm to its mouth at the Black Sea, his team announced. The approximately 2,850-kilometer journey is set to begin on Saturday in Donaueschingen with a symbolic jump into the water and a sip from the source. In Ulm, Heß will then enter the river.
The record attempt is also designed as an environmental project
The expedition is also an environmental project. Heß plans to collect water samples along the entire route according to scientific guidelines. A team led by microplastics expert Karin Schuhen from Karlsruhe will analyze the samples and use them to create a comprehensive microplastics map of the Danube. The results will be incorporated into a scientific evaluation and recommendations for action for policymakers and society.
