On Saturday, hundreds of Alaskans gathered once again to take part in the Polar Plunge, an annual fundraising exercise that sees costume-clad participants dive into the frigid waters of Goose Lake in Anchorage.
The event, which raises money for Special Olympics Alaska (more than $300,000 this year, according to Anchorage TV station KTVA), begins with a hole cut in the frozen top of the lake, and culminates with wave after wave of brave divers leaping into the icy waters, while spectators and supporters cheer them on.