awakeSWIMMING THE AMAZON
Fifty-two-year-old Slovenian Martin Strel broke a world record in 2007 by swimming the entire length of the Amazon. At an average of 52 miles a day, it took Strel 66 days to swim the 3,272-mile river. He wore only a wetsuit for the perilous attempt, during which he dodged piranhas, tackled crocodiles, and overcame nausea, diarrhea, and sunstroke. a seasoned marathon swimmer, Strel had previously conquered the Danube in 2000 (1,776 miles), the Mississippi in 2001 (2,348 miles), and the Yangtze in 2004 (3,900 miles). He completed the Amazon swim to raise awareness of the plight of the rain forest, saying, "I hope people remember this rain forest is our friend and stop destroying it. Most importantly, remember that it is never too late."
Samuel Johnson (1709-84)
