The Ocean Refuses No River
On August 13 2023, Lewis Pugh began his 315-mile (507-km) swim down the Hudson River, from its source to its end at New York City. He finished the swim, ‘exhausted but rejuvenated’, on Wednesday 13 September, at Battery Park. Lewis swam to highlight the critical role rivers play in a habitable planet.
During the epic journey, Lewis explored the interconnectedness of rivers and oceans, and stressed the urgent need to restore, protect and respect them. “If we want healthy oceans we also need healthy rivers — it’s that simple.”
The end of the swim coincided with the UN General Assembly Week, Climate Week NYC 2023, and the UN Secretary General’s Climate Ambition Summit.
The Swim
Lewis started his swim at the Hudson’s source in Lake Tear of the Clouds, high in the wild Adirondack Mountains on the flank of Mt Marcy, and finished where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean in New York City.
He took us on a journey from the stirring wilderness of upstate New York to one of the most iconic cities in the world. The swim was 315 miles (507 km) and took four weeks to complete.
Along the route Lewis engaged with river users, not just on the Hudson River, but along other major rivers around the world.
The Story
The Hudson River tells an archetypal story. From its wilderness beginnings to its metropolitan ending in New York City, the Hudson tells a story of how a river can be misused and damaged, then cared for by a citizenry passionate about turning the fate of its river around.
Over the past centuries, much of the Hudson’s catchment area was deforested in the rush to harvest timber; today, some parts of that catchment have been replanted and rewilded.
Forty years ago many parts of the river were considered dangerously polluted; now, though there is still much work to be done, the river is considerably cleaner – an astonishing fact, given that its outlet is at one of the world’s busiest cities.
A River for all Rivers
“The Hudson River is one river that can speak for all rivers.” – Lewis Pugh
The United Nations Headquarters is in Manhattan, near the mouth of the Hudson River. This gathering of world representatives symbolically connects the Hudson River with all the world’s rivers.
Which is why Lewis Pugh, UN Patron of the Oceans, ended his swim there, in the lead up to the UN General Assembly Week, Climate Week NYC 2023, and the UN Secretary General’s Climate Ambition Summit.
Follow Lewis
IT’S A WRAP!
Wednesday 13th September
Lewis completed the Hudson Swim, coming ashore at the American Merchant Mariners’ Memorial in Battery Park, Manhattan, to the cheers of gathered supporters. Follow the progress of the swim from start to finish.
Global Citizens and our Letter to World Leaders
To show support for rivers worldwide, we invited followers to sign Lewis Pugh’s open letter calling on world leaders to prioritize healthy rivers as part of their commitment to protect 30% of land, inland waters and oceans by 2030.
Lewis also appeared on stage with Bill Nye, aka ‘The Science Guy’, at the Global Citizen concert in Central Park, where they urged concert goers to add their names to over 40,000 signatures on the letter.
Timeline
19 July
Campaign launch
10 August
Press event – New York City
13 August
Expedition start – Lake Tear of the Clouds
13 September
Expedition finish – Battery Park, Manhattan
13 – 17 September
Post swim media engagements
18 – 24 September
UN General Assembly Week and Climate Week NYC 2023
20 September
UN Secretary General’s Climate Ambition Summit
24 September
World Rivers Day
