The aQuelle Midmar Mile is an open water swimming race held annually in February at the Midmar Dam near Howick, north of Pietermaritzburg. Each year, it draws thousands of competitors, from serious international athletes and Olympic medallists to purely recreational swimmers. In 2009 the event, in which 13 755 competitors finished the race, was recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest open water swimming event. For the 2018 event all swimmers are able to raise funds for the official charities linked to the aQuelle Midmar Mile.