X-WATERS Енисей

X-WATERS Yenisei 2026 takes place on August 1, offering four distinct distances: 100m, 500m, 3km, and 12km. Swimmers compete in the waters of the Yenisei River, a massive system draining into the Arctic Ocean, with events centered near the city of Dudinka. The river here presents a challenging environment, with depths reaching 61 meters and an average of 14 meters. Participants should prepare for a river environment that demands respect for its scale and its role as a strategic Arctic maritime gateway, which earned international status in 2012.

The Arctic river environment

As you navigate the course, the geography of the Taymyr Peninsula defines your surroundings, marking the northernmost expanse of Siberian Russia. The route passes near the confluence where the Dudinka River joins the main flow, a junction located 401 kilometers from the Yenisei’s entry into the Kara Sea. You may catch sight of Polikarpovsky Island, a feature formed where the Polikarpovskaya and Dikaya channels meet. This territory, including the settlement of Polikarpovsk, has been designated a formal border zone since 2007, underscoring the remote and strictly regulated nature of the landscape surrounding the race. Swimming here requires navigating a powerful, deep, and historic artery that effectively acts as the natural divide between Western and Eastern Siberia.