Key Highlights
- City Stars Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt claims the crown as the world’s largest artificial pool covering 23.9 acres.
- San Alfonso Del Mar Resort in Chile remains the second‑largest, spanning 20 acres of pristine saltwater.
- MahaSamutr Pool in Thailand occupies 72,000 sq m and is the third–largest, recognized as Asia’s biggest man‑made lagoon.
- Other notable examples include Ostrava Poruba (Czech Republic), The Lagoon at Epperson (USA) and Dreamworld Fun Lagoon in Pakistan.
- These colossal basins represent a blend of engineering grandeur, luxury leisure and extensive environmental engineering.
Detailed Insights
City Stars Sharm El Sheikh – Located in the Sinai desert, this 23.9‑acre basin began operations in 2015 and is fed by saltwater extracted from underground aquifers, allowing it to recirculate over the course of weeks. It cost US $5.5 billion and is often cited as the most expensive pool ever constructed.
San Alfonso Del Mar – The Chilean resort’s 20‑acre lagoon, built by Crystal Lagoons, spread over nine football fields and contained 66 million gallons of seawater. It held the world record for several years before being surpassed.
MahaSamutr – Covering 72,000 sq m and reaching a maximum depth of 2.4 meters, this Thai lagoon sits beside an artificial beach, offering a calm water surface that mirrors the surrounding landscape.
Other Pools (in order of size) – Ostrava Poruba (10 acres, Czech Republic); The Lagoon at Epperson (7.5 acres, USA); The Lagoon at Windsong Ranch (4.9 acres, USA); Laguna Bahia (3.5 acres, Chile); Hayman Island Resort (2.2 acres, Australia); Dreamworld Fun Lagoon (95 000 sq ft, Pakistan).
Key Concepts
- Man‑made Lagoon: An artificially engineered shallow basin mimicking natural lakes, often constructed for recreation or flood control.
- Saltwater Aquifer Input: The practice of drawing saline groundwater from underground reservoirs to maintain pool salinity and water volume.
- Surface‑Area to Depth Ratio: A metric used in pool design to balance aesthetic appeal, structural stability, and thermal comfort.
- Large‑Scale Water Replenishment: The technique of scheduling periodic water refills that may take days or weeks for pools of this magnitude.
- Luxury Leisure Infrastructure: A category of hospitality facilities that combine opulent features with advanced engineering to provide unique guest experiences.