a grammar question

Do you feel these sound natural? Which one would be better?

1. Swimming in the pool is safer than in the river.
2. Swimming is safer in the pool than in the river.

Thank you in advance

They both sound all right though just a little awkward. It's hard to judge which is better, maybe 2. Here's how we'd usually put it:

3. It's safer to swim in the pool than in the river.

There is nothing akward in the slightest about either. "It's safer to swim in the pool than in the river" sounds too informal.

I like 1 and then 3.
2 doesn't sound as natural, as 1, but it would be correct.

There you go then: it's all a matter of taste. There's nothing wrong with any of them. If you want something formal sounding how about this?

4. Swimming in the pool is safer than swimming in the river.