Top 10 Largest Swimming Pools in the World

Posted on January 19th, 2023.

When discussing the largest swimming pools on the planet, we’re certainly not talking about your average-sized watering hole. 

While there have been large man-made pools practically since civilization began, these swimming pools in particular defy the imagination in terms of their sheer scale.

You may have visited a few resorts in your time with large luxurious over-the-top pools, but trust me when we say that those pools are practically teacup-sized in comparison to these swimming pools. We’ve covered plenty of swimming pool Top 10’s in Pool Magazine, including the world’s most expensive pools. Today, however, we’re going to be looking at some of the largest pools on Earth. With that said, let’s dive right in!

Statistics are all well and good, but we’re dying to know more about these massive swimming pools and we’re sure you are too. Let’s take a closer look at each one of the swimming pools on our Top 10 Largest Swimming Pools list.

#10 – Dreamworld Fun Lagoon

The world’s largest well water swimming pool is located on the outskirts of Pakistan’s largest metropolis, Karachi. The Dreamworld Resort’s pool, which is filled with 2 million gallons of water pumped from neighboring wells, also has waterslides and an artificial sea with waves up to 4 feet high. This is a massive pool where scores of families gather together to have a good time.

#9 – Hayman Island Resort Pool

The pool at Hayman Island Resort has the size of seven Olympic-sized pools and has a surface area of nearly 78,000 square feet. The man-made lagoon was built in 1985 as part of the exclusive Hayman Island resort in the Whitsundays, on the Great Barrier Reef’s Whitsunday Islands. The pool, which is one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, has a freshwater section surrounded by a bigger saltwater segment, as well as a sand bar in the center for relaxing. The largest of the four linked boardwalks, extending 165 feet, spans the water’s surface.

#8 – The Lagoon at Windsong Ranch

One of the largest pools on earth is actually in the United States. The Lagoon, a massive 4.9-acre seawater pool, is currently the centerpiece of Windsong Ranch. Guests of the ranch can unwind on the white sand beaches or participate in a variety of activities such as paddleboarding and kayaking in the crystal clear Caribbeanesque waters. The largest pool in the United States, this one must be seen to be believed!

#7 – Piscina Las Brisas de Santo Domingo

Piscina Las Brisas is a five-acre saltwater pool is part of the Las Brisas upscale condominium development in Chile. To give you a sense of scale, it’s roughly the size of 16 Olympic-sized swimming pools. This architectural achievement is one of the largest swimming pools on the planet. Two of the nicest aspects are that it has a view of the Pacific Ocean and its crystal clear water.

#6 – The Lagoon at Epperson

What was once a cow pasture just north of Tampa is now home to the largest swimming pool in the country. Swimming, paddle boarding, and kayaking are all possible on the man-made, sustainable body of water. It also has a swim-up bar, cabanas, a floating obstacle course, and other amenities. The lagoon spans 7.5 acres and has a perimeter of 4,200 linear square feet, with an average depth of 8 feet and some spots as deep as 12 feet.

#5 – Diamante in Cabo San Lucas

With views of Diamante’s signature sand dunes and the majestic Pacific Ocean, you’ll be in paradise. Sail, swim, stand-up paddleboard, and kayak, or simply relax in your own private cabana nearby. There are wide beach areas, a swim-up bar and jacuzzi, and other family-friendly amenities surrounding the lagoon, so grab your goggles and sunscreen and get ready for some serious fun. Tied with our #4 pick, the 10-acre saltwater Crystal Lagoons® at Diamante offers leisure and family-friendly activities at the heart of their resort.

#4 – Ostrava Poruba – Vřesina

The Ostrava Poruba, a seasonal community pool that first opened in 1962 is the largest open-air swimming pool in the Czech Republic at 10 acres. The massive fresh water pool is designed to look like a lake. Tied with our #5 pick in terms of size, the municipal corporation Sareza (Sports and Recreational Facilities of the City of Ostrava) operates swimming pools of various sizes (indoor and outdoor) in Poruba, Ostrava-Jih, Moravská Ostrava a Pvoz, and Bartovice.

#3 – Mahasamutr

The MahaSamutr pool is home to Asia’s largest man-made lagoon. It has a surface area of 72,000 square miles and a maximum depth of 2.4 meters. The lagoon, surrounded by an artificial sand beach, is the focal point of the MahaSamutr development project, an upscale country club and residential complex in Hua Hin.

Also by Crystal Lagoons, this massive pool is the first major project in Thailand and sits proudly on our top 10 list as the #3 largest pool in the world.

#2 – San Alfonso Del Mar

San Alfonso Del Mar Resort in Chile is currently the second largest swimming pool in the world and sits on a private resort in Algarrobo, Chile, located roughly 60 miles west of Santiago. With a length of over nine football fields, this enormous saltwater pool is filled with over 66 million gallons of water. At the time of its completion in 2006, San Alfonso Del Mar Resort captured the record for the world’s largest pool and held it for almost a decade. A builder of some of the largest pools on the planet, we can thank Crystal Lagoons for this one as well.

Featuring swimming, sailing, kayaking, and a host of world-class amenities, San Alfonso Del Mar Resort is a must-see travel destination for pool lovers and an incredible achievement in aquatic engineering.

#1- City Stars Sharm El Sheikh

The City Stars Sharm El Sheikh lagoon, which opened in 2015, is officially the world’s largest man-made body of water. Aside from its enormous size, this massive pool located in the Sinai desert is a sight to behold. The saltwater supply is drawn from aquifers and takes several weeks to replenish. The $5.5 billion project is also the most expensive pool in the world.

At 23.9 acres City Stars Sharm El Sheikh by Crystal Lagoons; is officially the largest swimming pool project in the world.

In conclusion:

You may have asked the question “what is the largest swimming pool in the world” and gotten 100 different answers. Unfortunately, there is a lot of conflicting information out there and statistics have a tendency to be copied & pasted without much fact-checking these days. Stats also have a way of changing quicker than human beings tend to update their websites.

In fact, the Guinness Book of World Records even still lists the 8.9-acre Orthlieb Pool in Casablanca, Morocco as the largest pool on the planet. Unfortunately, that pool was demolished back in 1986 and hasn’t been around for quite some time. There are also plenty of places that still list the San Alfonso Del Mar as the world’s largest swimming pool, but it was supplanted back in 2015 by the #1 pool on our list. City Stars Sharm El Sheikh is officially the largest swimming pool on the planet – for now.

Source: Pool Magazine