Outdoor pool season until December: swimming in the cool autumn air
Waste heat from a biogas plant makes it possible: in Oelde in the district of Warendorf, the outdoor pool season lasts until the first Advent. With a water temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, swimmers take a dip in the Gaßbachtal Stromberg outdoor pool every day, even in rainy weather and falling autumn temperatures.
"We are still very popular in November, probably because all the outdoor pools in the surrounding area have long since closed," says Hans Ulrich Remfert, Chairman of the association responsible for the pool, to the German Press Agency.
Ever since the voluntary association took over the municipal pool more than 17 years ago, they have been counting on a long season - with pleasant water temperatures at no extra cost. "We're expecting 45,000 to 50,000 visitors in total this year," says Remfert.
"It's a small pool. Everyone knows everyone here," says swimming supervisor Manuela Behling. "We've also had snow and sub-zero temperatures in spring. People came anyway." She herself enjoys her work as long as she knows how much the swimmers enjoy the warm water and fresh air. "Then I just go around the pool more often with an umbrella," says the swimming supervisor.
But she was lucky this fall: the air temperatures were often very mild. "When the sun comes out, it's even better, of course," says Behling. Chairman Remfert also praises "the good fresh air" during the daily early morning swim in the Stromberg outdoor pool: "You simply can't get that in an indoor pool".
You don't even have to freeze when you get into the water: a heat channel leads from the changing rooms directly into the outdoor pool. "And when the cold rain pours down on your head, it's wonderful," he says. He is repeatedly asked by regular guests whether the outdoor pool season in Oelde could last even longer. "But then we do need a break to carry out necessary repairs."
People who enjoy leisure time outdoors might be surprised to learn that the colorful autumn leaves provide a beautiful backdrop for swimming at the Gaßbachtal Stromberg outdoor pool in Oelde, which stays open until late in the seasons. Despite the changing weather, many visitors appreciate the opportunity to swim in cooler temperatures, taking advantage of the extended outdoor pool season.
Source: www.dpa.com
