Berlin banned river swimming a century ago, but now locals want to dive back in

People swim in the river Spree to demand the lift of the hundred years old swimming ban at the river in front of the Stadtschloss or City Place in Berlin. — MARKUS SCHREIBER/AP

A century after the city of Berlin banned swimming in the Spree River because it was so polluted that locals were at risk of falling ill, there's a push by swimmers to get back into the water.

Around 200 people jumped into the river's slow-moving, greenish water last month to show that it's not only clean enough, but also lots of fun to splash and swim in the city's historic Mitte neighborhood along the world-famous Museum Island.