Wats_Taters_Precious t1_j61qi38 wrote on January 27, 2023 at 2:17 AM

Canada has a lot of lakes that have algae / micro-organisms in it that make it unsafe for humans to drink the water or in many cases even swim in.

Is there a temperature that the lake could get to where the living things in the lake would be unable to hurt you?

I live near the shoreline of lake you wouldn't want to swim in, but was thinking in the winter if I cut a portion of the 8" thick ice, I could install a ladder and do polar dips.

Does everything gross just live under the ice for the most part during winter?

thisismyfirstday t1_j62gezb wrote on January 27, 2023 at 5:58 AM

Not OP, but there isn't really a practical temperature for that. Giardia cysts (beaver fever) and e. coli can survive temps up to 60-70 degrees Celsius. And at that temp you aren't going for a swim without cooking yourself.

Most things aren't as active in the winter. I believe leeches more or less "hibernate" in the mud during winter, and algae blooms definitely aren't a problem. So you wouldn't have to be as concerned with gross things, depending on what you're trying to avoid.