My First Lake Swim in Estonia, 2023: A Return to Something Deeply Familiar

There’s something deeply grounding about standing at the edge of an Estonian lake. That stillness and the smell of pine trees in the air, a very fond childhood memory. In 2023, I found myself once again at the edge of that familiar experience, slightly cold, a little windy, and absolutely determined to swim. This moment for me is always so majik, the first lake swim when ever I visit Estonia.

Meriel, one of my relatives, l and I didn’t hesitate for long, even though it was cold. We went to feel the water first, cautiously dipping our toes in. It was chilly, as expected, but we didn’t care. We were in Estonia, in the summer, and I had to go in the lake!

As soon as my feet touched the water, I felt it, a rush of calm that only an Estonian lake can give. It was like being 11 years old again, when I swam in the lake in Elva with my grandmother. That lake, in particular, holds a special place in my heart. It’s where I first felt the magic of Estonia’s freshwater, where I laughed and splashed and felt so alive and connected to my roots, to nature, to my family. It’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it, but swimming in that lake as a child left an imprint on me, something I carry with me now. I do remember my grandmother telling me stories of summers she spent in Estonia in the lakes and how much it was part of her childhood, and now it was somewhat part of mine, AND in the same lakes! Incredible!

Estonian lakes are unlike anything else I’ve experienced. They are quiet, often surrounded by forests, and they feel almost sacred. There’s a peacefulness to them that’s hard to put into words. You step in, and it’s as if the lake is embracing you. I find Estonian lakes incredibly grounding.

Growing up, whenever we visited Estonia, seeing one, especially in the warmth of summer, meant an automatic request to Dad to stop the car. Danae and I would beg him to pull over just so we could jump in. I remember our surprise the first time: “It’s fresh water!” we were so perplexed, because we were used to salty oceans in Australia. That surprise, that joy, became part of our summer ritual and really made me feel connected to Estonia

This trip, all those memories came flooding back as I went into the lake. It felt instinctual, almost ancestral. There’s something deeply Estonian about stripping off and jumping into a lake or a tiik (pond), depending on where you are. It doesn’t matter how cold it is or if the wind is up, if the lake is there, you go in. It’s part of the culture.

One thing that made me smile as we were leaving the lake was spotting a safety post with an ice breaker attached to it. An ice breaker! In the middle of summer! It made me giggle, but it also reminded me of just how seriously Estonians take their lake culture, because come winter, that same lake might be used for a quick dip through a hole in the ice. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but it’s very much a thing.

There’s something about being in a lake that brings out a different kind of connection. Maybe it’s because you’re stripped of everything, no phones, no distractions, just water and air and presence. It just took me back and I remembered the child in me who used to do this every chance she got.

I love swimming in Estonian lakes and I highly recommend anyone who visits Estonia to venture out of Tallinn, find a lake and take a dip!