Jun 26 2008World's Largest Pool: No, Not The Ocean
Although it might as well be. The San Alfonso del Mar is a 1,013 meter, 19-acre pool on the central coast of Chile. It holds 66 million gallons of filtered sea-water and even has a 115-foot deep end (making it even deeper than yesterday's pool). Although I think we can all agree this is actually less of a pool and more of a man-made lake. I have a rule: if you can boat on it, it's not a pool. But that's just me. As you can see, the pool is just a stone's throw from the beach, which begs the question, "Did you not see that massive natural pool right there before you built this thing?" Regardless, it took approximately five years and $2 billion to complete. Maintenance costs are estimated to be about $4 million a year -- and that's just to retrieve floaters!
Hit the jump for several more pictures of the ridiculousness.
Try making a splash in the world's largest swimming pool...it's 1,000 yards long [dailymail]
Thanks Alex, Raul and Uncle Eccoli, you're all invited to my pool party this weekend. Just need to find a pool.
Reader Comments
1. asbo - June 26, 2008 10:08 AM
thats pretty cool actually, why are there so few people in it though?
2. Jubtastic1 - June 26, 2008 10:12 AM
'Pools closed'
3. asbo - June 26, 2008 10:13 AM
cant find it on google earth....
4. Brian - June 26, 2008 10:20 AM
No Google Earth? It's gotta be there though.. the photos are from Reuters you can see in the corner...
Maybe it's got a giant cover that goes on in the winter time so that people can throw spent cigarette butts and beer cans on it. Ahh... memories...
5. darwinsbulldog - June 26, 2008 10:23 AM
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=San+Alfonso+del+Mar&sll=-36.057981,-74.190674&sspn=5.984909,3.955078&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.350619,-71.653116&spn=0.012081,0.007725&t=h&z=16
6. Josh - June 26, 2008 10:33 AM
No running around the pool. Oh, you have to get to the other side. Okay, light jog though. I don't want you falling in and getting swept out to sea.
7. greg - June 26, 2008 11:22 AM
Dude... this pool was launch a year ago
OOOOOOOOOLD
haha
8. guate6 - June 26, 2008 11:58 AM
Hey writer, I gave you this article yesterday too. Woot.
Pretty damn large pool. Now what I don't get, is that if it's a pool, why the hell would they use filtered saltwater? True, it'd be a ton of chlorine to pour into this thing, but man oh man, if I want saltwater, I can make my own with water and...you guessed it...salt!
I'd rather get into a regular lap pool...but in any case, it'd be neat to boat around in this thing.
9. bob - June 26, 2008 12:06 PM
UGH Fuck off and die with these ancient posts!!! This is a tech/awesome blog!
If i wanted to watch Back to the Future, I'd watch back to the future!!!!
Shit!
ps i love you
10. marge - June 26, 2008 12:26 PM
Yes, it's pretty old. the sea down here (chile) is pretty f****g cold, specially there, so I guess the use salt water to feel like they're on the beach -but on the Caribbean
11. marge - June 26, 2008 12:29 PM
and also, people can get VERY snob and ridicule in Chile
12. Pete - June 26, 2008 12:48 PM
Imagine the fun if there's ever a tsunami off the coast and the ocean dumps all those sea creatures into the pool.
13. E - June 26, 2008 12:57 PM
#3: I found it on Google Maps, so I assume it's also on google earth.
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=San+Alfonso+del+Mar+chile&sll=-51.890054,-34.101562&sspn=40.404258,114.257813&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.349942,-71.650364&spn=0.01321,0.027895&t=h&z=16
14. E - June 26, 2008 12:58 PM
Sorry, didn't see #5
15. greg - June 26, 2008 1:26 PM
Its cheaper use ocean water than fill with pure water
16. pdrunk - June 26, 2008 1:43 PM
We got a pool and a pond. The pond'd be good for you.
17. das - June 26, 2008 1:54 PM
I guess rich people are too good to be in salt water.
I mean c'mon! there's a fucking ocean right in front of it.
18. guate6 - June 26, 2008 1:59 PM
#17: The pool is made with filtered saltwater.
19. Zippy - June 26, 2008 3:23 PM
$2 billion? If they really wanted to throw that kind of money away, I would have gladly taken it off of their hands.
Good luck making sure that kids don't piss in that thing. After all, you can't blame them - they'd have to swim for 15 minutes just to get to the frigin' bathroom.
20. baby_clanger - June 26, 2008 3:44 PM
What about those pooor kids who can't swim propery, and need to hang onto the sides? Sucks for them when their mates drift half a mile away into the center cos they can swim. It's bad enough in a regular pool. (Yes, I was that child)
21. feckless - June 26, 2008 4:48 PM
I sent this to you like a month ago. Wally, not sexy.
22. Wally's not sexy - June 26, 2008 4:55 PM
Is it because I posted somewhere else? Like I'm not crazy enough already, I have to guess the motives of an insane genius. Well, better me than a normal person.
23. Not Fleckless - June 26, 2008 5:15 PM
hahaha i like the picture of the paddle-boaters, dressed like their on a yacht.... only this thing looks like it was meant for two not four people
24. Not Fleckless - June 26, 2008 5:15 PM
hahaha i like the picture of the paddle-boaters, dressed like their on a yacht.... only it's significantly smaller, looks like it was meant for two not four people, and oh yeah YOU'RE IN A "POOL"!!
25. feckless - June 26, 2008 6:07 PM
OK the moniker's down, you are the great and powerful OZ..... please quit fucking with my computer.
26. Sara - June 26, 2008 9:10 PM
It is my understanding that the sea currents in Chile are incredibly dangerous, hence the pool.
27. Chilean guy - June 26, 2008 9:33 PM
im from chile and i have been there a few times... IT'S AWESOME. i actually tried to cross it but i was at 1/4 of it and i got really tired and go back. and then taked swimming classes. i have a house near of it. it's to expensive live there.
sorry about my english.
28. Joey - June 26, 2008 11:34 PM
So what, do they fill this thing by waiting for an abnormally large wave to come in? That's just about the most ridiculous waste of space I've ever seen. Are people that afraid to swim in the ocean?
@27 Yeah, it must be fricken expensive to live there, since they have, like, five swimmers paying for the upkeep on that thing. Again: ridiculous.
29. Pattytricia - June 27, 2008 12:21 AM
Well... it is old news, it's massive and next to a coastal area which is extremely dangerous to swim in.. rips, massive waves and coastal lines are slightly slanted so... can't blame them for putting a safer option with a nice view...
I think it's an innovative idea and design anyone who trashes it, will burn in hell because Chile rules, as do I :)
30. poop - June 27, 2008 2:40 AM
hey! there's a perfectly great ocean over there! ...oh yeah, it's infected. nvm.
31. klitorisaurus - June 27, 2008 4:16 AM
Whats with all the hate? It's a sweet pool and a great idea! Sure it'd be much better suited for the desert not the coast, but hey, apparently the ocean in that region is not the most hospitable. I don't really care where they put it, it's awesome! +1 for technological marvels
32. Neisseria - June 27, 2008 8:23 AM
Now if you're in the hotel and want to go to the beach instead of having a 2 minute stroll over the sand you have to either swim across a huge arse pool or walk 2km around.
33. Drunkman - June 27, 2008 8:23 AM
How is this in Chile and not Dubai
34. Neisseria - June 27, 2008 8:25 AM
#27 I know how you fell. I was there once too and i tried to swim all the way across but got tired at half way and had to turn back.
35. AdamYYZ - June 27, 2008 7:38 PM
I'm going to poo in it just so they have to drain it.
36. And - July 1, 2008 4:41 AM
Just so you know, this is actually NOT a ridiculousness, since the sea in Chile pretty rough and cold, even during the summer... also, San Alfonso del Mar is not considered a place for rich people, is quite affordable, if you look at more info, you will see that there are a LOT of apartments, so the cost of the pool is divided by all of them....
37. And - July 1, 2008 12:55 PM
... by the way, let me add some links, so you can SEE how rough the sea is, so unless you are a surfer or you are over your kids ALL the time so they don't drown... well you get the idea. Notice the last video (news video) finishes by saying "the seas in Chile are notoriously dangerous with rough waves and strong currents."
Next time, please get more informed before trashing something... and just so you know, I DON'T go to San Alfonso del Mar or I am related to whoever did the project... so, for comment #17, who said "I guess rich people are too good to be in salt water"... actually, let me tell you that in Chile I would be considered "too snob" to own a place here, it is target for middle class people, who can't afford places in areas where the seas are better... if after seeing these videos, you still think the pool is a ridiculous idea, please come to Chile, and I dare you to stay in the ocean there for a long time... without drowning or turning blue by the cold water.
Tourist: (not a good video, but shows the waves and currents you have in Chile)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=M-ZNUOiO7V4
Spot (Chilean spot of the sea, as you would see, it is not a "Caribbean' kind)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BUlHOjV23hE
News:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=C6yHhScgxqI
38. gypsy - July 17, 2008 9:45 AM
my initial thought was one of disgust at the waste of money since the ocean's right there, but HAVING READ THE PREVIOUS COMMENTS, i'm convinced. it's a cool idea. at least you don't have to worry about jellyfish or anything, either. it is an awful lot of money though.
39. Spot Cool Stuff - September 5, 2008 1:09 AM
The same resort also has an indoor pool with a wave machine, waterfalls and HEATED sand.
40. Elisabeth - October 14, 2008 11:01 PM
"I guess rich people are too good to be in salt water.
I mean c'mon! there's a fucking ocean right in front of it."
Stop saying stuff if you dont know... they made it cause the beach there was dangerous to go to, and they wanted to take advantage of the place cause there is a little town/resort next to it. plus is not for rich peple look for prices,,, it is actually very affortable
"What about those pooor kids who can't swim propery, and need to hang onto the sides? Sucks for them when their mates drift half a mile away into the center cos they can swim. It's bad enough in a regular pool. (Yes, I was that child)"
IT HAS kiddy pools on the sides... ok people arent that dumb, if you make a resort is for family... they know kids are going.
Stop dissing stuff if you have no idea, you people are just jealous is in Chile and not in your country(I'm not saying any names but its pretty obvious) cause I bet if it were you would all be pilled up there with your overweight bodies LOVING IT and it would have a McDonalds right in it hahah XD