Hundreds turn out to swim the Elbe River in Dresden

Swimmers ranging roughly from the ages of eight to 80 plunged into the Elbe River in Germany's Dresden on Sunday for the city's 28th Elbe Swim, reported dpa.

The swimmers covered a 3.5-kilometre stretch with the current albeit providing some assistance.

Hundreds of people, some in colourful costumes, participated in the annual event, with river temperatures at 21.5 degrees Celsius.

Last year, 1,914 people took the plunge, organizers said. While the event is becoming increasingly popular, chief organizer Daniel Baumann said they are not pushing for record numbers.

"But you can feel the growing enthusiasm among people. They come on their own," he said, making advertising less important.