Some Basel residents swim home after work

(Patria) - During the summer months, residents of Basel, Switzerland, walk through the city streets with bright fish-shaped bags.

The so-called Wickelfisch is actually a waterproof bag they use to store their belongings when they decide to swim in the Rhine.

The mighty European river is a source of fun for many citizens of this Swiss city on the border with Germany and France in July and August.

Although the average summer temperature in Basel is only around 25 degrees Celsius, and the Rhine is characterized by a very fast and unpredictable river flow recommended only for the best swimmers, many seek refreshment in it.

It is not uncommon to see businessmen taking off their suits on the banks of the Rhine after work, packing them into a Wickelfisch, and swimming home.

Some claim that this is their way of relaxing after work, while others want to avoid traffic jams in the city of about 170,000 inhabitants.

The majority of swimmers swim on the stretch between the Schwarzwald and Johanniter bridges and let the current carry them downstream.

Not only is the Rhine a temperamental river intended for skilled swimmers, but there are also no lifeguards around it. If you want to swim in it, you do so at your own risk, writes Punkufer.hr.