# The World's Largest Swimming Pool **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 15, 2009, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495 "2009-03-15T04:28:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/1 "2009-03-15T04:28:12Z")
See it [here](http://bored-bored.com/weird/the-largest-swimming-pool-on-earth/). Opened December 2007 in the resort of San Alfonso del Mar in Algarrobo, Chile. Salt water. Over a kilometer long (3,323 feet), covers 20 acres, contains 250,000 cubic meters of water. Took 5 years and a billion pounds sterling to build. This is one pool you might could pee in. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/2 "2009-03-15T05:07:07Z")
Nice. You can go swimming in the ocean, and then clean the sand off yourself in the pool. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/3 "2009-03-15T12:48:31Z")
That’s awesome! The link says that the ocean is too cold to swim in, but the pool is kept at a steady 79 degrees. I wanted to see exactly where it was, so I looked it up on [Google maps](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=San+Alfonso+del+Mar,+Algarrobo,+Chile&sll=-30.503302,-71.081285&sspn=0.053985,0.059738&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.350225,-71.653127&spn=0.026169,0.029869&t=h&z=15). How cool is Google maps, anyway? Damn. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/4 "2009-03-15T13:12:55Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > See it [here](http://bored-bored.com/weird/the-largest-swimming-pool-on-earth/). Opened December 2007 in the resort of San Alfonso del Mar in Algarrobo, Chile. Salt water. Over a kilometer long (3,323 feet), covers 20 acres, contains 250,000 cubic meters of water. Took 5 years and a billion pounds sterling to build. > > This is one pool you might could pee in. Well you know technically, you could pee in \*any \* pool… ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/5 "2009-03-15T13:30:31Z")
_Its turquoise waters are so crystal clear that you can see the bottom even in the deep end.’_ Urine or no urine, shouldn’t all swimming pools be clean enough that you can see the bottom? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/6 "2009-03-15T13:47:38Z")
I’m afraid they’re going to have to build a bridge soon to cross it. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/7 "2009-03-15T16:21:06Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I’m afraid they’re going to have to build a bridge soon to cross it. They should. It would be quite a hike to get to the ocean. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/8 "2009-03-15T16:34:05Z")
Just a heads up: When I opened the link, a talking advert came on. (Apparently I’ve been selected to win a free Nintendo Wii.) ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/9 "2009-03-15T16:52:43Z")
Is that really a pool, or more of a man-made lagoon? ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/10 "2009-03-15T17:04:05Z")
That was my thought when I saw it. Still pretty cool, though. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/11 "2009-03-15T20:53:15Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > _Its turquoise waters are so crystal clear that you can see the bottom even in the deep end.’_ > > Urine or no urine, shouldn’t all swimming pools be clean enough that you can see the bottom? That was my thought. I guess it depends how deep the deep end actually is. According to the story, the pool contains 250,000 cubic meters of water, and covers 20 acres. Well, 20 acres is about 81,000 square meters, so if all the figures given in the article are correct, that would suggest an average depth of around 3 meters, or 10 feet. Assuming that there are places where the pool is very shallow, for children and for wading, it could be that the deep end is actually quite deep. Still, as you say, i would expect to be able to see the bottom. On preview: Some Googling finally turned uo some figures on the depth. According to [this article](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-509718/Try-making-splash-worlds-largest-swimming-pool--1-000-yards-long.html), the deep end is 115 feet! I guess it would be understandable if you couldn’t see the bottom. The resort’s website lists scuba diving lessons as one of the activities, and i’ll bet this is what they use the deep end for. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/12 "2009-03-15T21:03:26Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Some Googling finally turned uo some figures on the depth. According to [this article](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-509718/Try-making-splash-worlds-largest-swimming-pool--1-000-yards-long.html), the deep end is 115 feet! Almost 20 fathoms, not bad. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/13 "2009-03-15T22:14:55Z")
Great, I’ll be sure and bring my submersible. No, seriously. I could understand a deep end deep enough for high diving, but generally, below 20’ or so, aren’t you’re going to want to make it a destination? Put an artificial shipwreck or some giant clams down there? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/14 "2009-03-15T22:22:57Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Some Googling finally turned uo some figures on the depth. According to [this article](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-509718/Try-making-splash-worlds-largest-swimming-pool--1-000-yards-long.html), the deep end is 115 feet! I guess it would be understandable if you couldn’t see the bottom. That makes sense. Also, for the first time ever, I’ve read an informative article in the Daily Mail!.. > [@](#): > > Chile’s monster pool uses a computer- controlled suction and filtration system to keep fresh seawater in permanent circulation, drawing it in from the ocean at one end and pumping it out at the other. > > The sun warms the water to 26c, nine degrees warmer than the adjoining sea. (Edit: I was previously wondering what the point of the thing actually was) ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/15 "2009-03-15T23:40:28Z")
How warm are year round temps over there? Does it ever get cold enough to turn the pool into the world’s largest outdoor ice rink? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/16 "2009-03-16T00:50:34Z")
My first thought upon seeing that was “What a waste (of resources)!”, but is it really? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/17 "2009-03-16T01:48:49Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > My first thought upon seeing that was “What a waste (of resources)!”, but is it really? Oh, probably, but what isn’t? ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/18 "2009-03-16T02:30:34Z")
Impressive. But considering the fact that Chile has the world’s longest coastline, not really. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/19 "2009-03-16T02:38:09Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Impressive. But considering the fact that Chile has the world’s longest coastline, not really. Huh? Not even close. Chile has just over 7,000km of coastline, giving it a worldwide rank of 20. Canada tops the list with over 200,00km, and there are 13 countries with over 10,000km. [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_length_of_coastline) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495/20 "2009-03-16T04:29:30Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Is that really a pool, or more of a man-made lagoon? > [@ExTank](#): > > That was my thought when I saw it. Still pretty cool, though. I wondered that, too, but the Guinness Book recognizes it as a pool. > [@Khadaji](#): > > Just a heads up: When I opened the link, a talking advert came on. (Apparently I’ve been selected to win a free Nintendo Wii.) Must be selective. I’m not getting that. Hope not too many are. I hate those things. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/489495.md?page=2)