Represa de Volta Grande — Rio Negrinho

In the state of Santa Catarina, the Represa de Volta Grande welcomes open water swimmers to a sheltered freshwater lake where motorboats and fishing nets are kept away from the bay. This open water swimming event, held at Camping Lago Azul on the reservoir in Rio Negrinho, Brazil, serves as a serene retreat for swimmers tackling distances ranging from introductory sprints to a full ten-kilometer marathon. Stepping onto the grassy shoreline on race morning, competitors encounter calm, flat water surrounded by open green spaces and quiet rural scenery. The absence of motorized vessels leaves the surface completely undisturbed, creating glass-like swimming conditions where athletes can focus entirely on their stroke and sighting. Organized by Correr E Nadar, the gathering combines competitive long-distance challenges with a welcoming community atmosphere for swimmers and their families.

The Rio Negrinho watershed feeding Volta Grande

The lake waters of the Volta Grande reservoir form part of the broader hydrological landscape surrounding the municipality of Rio Negrinho. Across the wider territory, the local hydrography includes the Negro, Preto, Negrinho, Salto, and Corredeiras rivers, shaping a dense network of waterways throughout the countryside. This abundant freshwater network has also shaped the municipality's rural tourism attractions, which feature historic water wheels, natural waterfalls, and the Alto Serro Azul dam. Understanding regional river dynamics provides valuable context on how freshwater flows through the surrounding terrain.

Camping Lago Azul on the protected reservoir bay

Along the shoreline of the Volta Grande reservoir, Camping Lago Azul provides direct waterfront access to the water chosen for the swimming course. The camping facility began its recreational activities in 1975, establishing decades of tradition as a hub for outdoor leisure and water sports on the lake. Its long history as a family retreat gives the venue an established, comfortable character that welcomes visiting competitors. To preserve the quality and safety of its waters, Camping Lago Azul enforces clear preservation rules that directly benefit open water swimmers. Instead of motorized craft, the campsite actively promotes silent, human-powered boating by lending life jackets for visiting canoes and kayaks. This policy fosters a quiet, cooperative waterfront where paddlers and swimmers coexist safely on the calm lake surface. Swimmers can enter the water for pre-race warm-ups in total stillness, confident that no unexpected motorized boat traffic will cross their path.

Lakeside chalets and the Serro Azul countryside

On the banks surrounding the course, the race venue sits on private land equipped with convenient infrastructure for traveling athletes. The property provides expansive green space, open tent camping areas, shared toilets, and outdoor barbecue grills where teams and families can gather after finishing their events. For competitors seeking indoor accommodation, the site features chalets designed to lodge groups of six or ten people, allowing swim squads to stay right beside the starting area. For meals and daily supplies beyond the camping grills, the rural district of Serro Azul lies just 1.5 kilometers down the road from the campsite gates. The village provides convenient local shops and casual snack bars where athletes can grab coffee, snacks, or groceries during their stay. This proximity makes it effortless to combine a weekend of competitive racing with a quiet, self-contained getaway in the countryside.

Represa de Volta Grande: courses, escort kayaks and season finale

Held in November, the Volta Grande swim represents the final stop of a six-stage circuit held throughout the sporting year. As the season finale, the race brings together open water enthusiasts from across the region to celebrate the culmination of the circuit on the tranquil lake. The competition program caters to swimmers of all backgrounds with an extensive range of distances. For older swimmers, the options extend through short 200m and 600m sprints, intermediate courses of 1.5km, 2.5km, and 3000m, and premier long-distance challenges of 5000m and 10,000m. Entry includes a swim cap, a finisher medal, and the chance to earn a trophy on the podium. Safety standards and athlete preparation are strictly regulated before each start.

Thermal wetsuits are fully permitted, helping swimmers regulate body temperature and gain buoyancy over extended hours in the reservoir. To support swimmers tackling the longer distances, athletes are permitted to use their own individual kayak or stand-up paddleboard escort on any course. Having an individual paddler alongside ensures tailored navigation, feeding support, and an extra layer of comfort as you push toward the finish line across the calm freshwater of Volta Grande.