Hellespont Crossing
The Dardanelles strait swum by Lord Byron in 1810
Overview
The Hellespont, about 1.2 km wide at its narrowest, links the Aegean and the Sea of Marmara with strong surface current. The legend of Leander swimming nightly to Hero predates recorded sport. Lord Byron swam it in 1810 partly in imitation of the myth, inspiring the modern organised crossings that now draw international fields each year.
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