Where Is the Largest Swimming Pool in the World
The largest swimming pool in the world by surface area is the San Alfonso del Mar Resort pool in Algarrobo, Chile. It holds the Guinness World Record for the largest pool by area and is a well documented commercial water attraction at the resort complex on the Pacific coast. The pool is located in central Chile, near the beach resort town of Algarrobo, south of Valparaíso and Santiago.
The pool measures approximately 1,010 meters in length and covers about 8 hectares (20 acres), making it far larger than Olympic sized competition pools. It holds roughly 250 million liters of water and uses a proprietary filtration and circulation system to maintain clarity in the open air basin. The project was developed by the resort and its engineering partners, and it has been cited by multiple international media outlets and Guinness World Records as the biggest swimming pool in the world by area.
Key Dimensions, Capacity, and Engineering Details
Size and Water Volume
The pool at San Alfonso del Mar spans more than one kilometer in length, with a width that varies across the basin, and a maximum depth of around 3.5 meters in the shallow areas and up to 11.5 meters in the deeper section. Its total water volume is estimated at 250 million liters, which is equivalent to over 66 million gallons and far exceeds the capacity of standard Olympic pools.
Filtration and Construction
The facility uses a built in filtration and heating system that circulates and treats the water, helping maintain clarity and temperature in the large outdoor basin. The construction involved extensive civil engineering work, including a custom basin design and specialized materials to withstand the coastal environment. The project was developed with input from engineering firms and resort operators, and its scale has been referenced in industry coverage and Guinness World Records documentation.
How It Compares to Other Large Pools
Olympic and Commercial Pools
A standard Olympic sized swimming pool is 50 meters long and 25 meters wide, covering about 1,250 square meters, while the San Alfonso del Mar pool is more than 60 times larger in surface area. Even among other notable large pools, such as those at luxury resorts and water parks, the Chilean pool remains the largest by area according to Guinness World Records and widely reported rankings.
Rankings and Recognition
The pool at San Alfonso del Mar is consistently cited as the biggest swimming pool in the world by area in global media, travel guides, and official records. Its scale, location on the Chilean coast, and engineering approach are frequently highlighted as a unique example of a massive commercial water facility designed for resort use and public recreation.