MapMuse - Locate Public Swimming Pools Near You

...or in the ground, and from materials such as metal, plastic or concrete.

Pools that may be used by many people or by the general public are called public, while pools used exclusively by a few people or in a home are called private. Many health clubs, fitness centers and private clubs have public pools used mostly for exercise. Many hotels and massage parlors have public pools for relaxation. Hot tubs and spas are pools with hot water, used for relaxation or therapy, and are common in homes, hotels, clubs and massage parlors. Swimming pools are also used for diving, other sports, and training of lifeguards and astronauts.

Pools must be sanitized to prevent growth and spread of bacteria, viruses, algae and insect larvae that can cause disease. This is done using filters and chemical disinfectants such as chlorine, bromine or mineral sanitizers. A pool cover can keep debris out of a pool that is not in use. In cold climates, pools must be closed in winter to prevent them and their pipes from cracking due to ice.

World's largest

One of the largest swimming pools ever built was reputedly in Moscow after the Palace of Soviets remained uncompleted. The foundations were converted into an open air swimming pool after the process of de-Stalinisation.[8] After the fall of communism, Christ the Saviour Cathedral was re-built (it had originally been on the site) between 1995 and 2000.

In the 21st century, there seem to be many contenders for "the largest swimming pool on earth", reputedly at Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh; the Orthlieb Pool in Casablanca, Morocco. It is 480 meters (1,574 feet) long and 75 meters (246 feet) wide. It is filled with sea water and covers 8.9 acres (3.60 Ha). [Source: Internet]; at Club Med Camarina, Sicily; Sunlite Pool, Coney Island, Cincinnati; and Garden City, Kansas with their 220-foot by 330-foot pool (67m x 100 m) that holds 26,000,000 gallons (100 million litres) of water. A recent construction in Tokyo, Japan may top them all. However, according to the Guinness World Records, the largest swimming pool in the world is San Alfonso del Mar Seawater pool in Algarrobo, Chile. It is 1,013 m (3,324 ft) long and has an area of 8 ha (19.77 acre), it was completed in December 2006

The largest indoor wave pool in North America is at the West Edmonton Mall[10] and the largest indoor pool is at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab in the Sonny Carter Training Center at NASA JSC in Houston.[11] The recreational diving center Nemo 33 near Brussels, Belgium is home to the world's deepest swimming pool. The pool has two large flat-bottomed areas at depth levels of 5 m (16 ft) and 10 m (32 ft), and a large circular pit descending to a depth of 33 m (108 ft).

The Fleishhacker Pool was the largest swimming pool in the United States. Opened on 23 April 1925, it measured 300 m by 45 m (1,000 ft by 150 ft) and was so large that the lifeguards required kayaks for patrol. It was closed in 1971 due to low patronage.