The Aquatic Giants: Unveiling The World's Largest Swimming Pool In 2025 (And Its Biggest Rival)

The question of the world's largest swimming pool is one of the most hotly debated topics in travel and engineering circles, often leading to confusion between two colossal, man-made lagoons. As of December 18, 2025, the official title for the "Largest Man-Made Crystal Lagoon by Area" belongs to a breathtaking project in the heart of the Egyptian desert, a testament to modern water technology. This monumental pool dwarfs Olympic-sized standards, redefining the very concept of a swimming experience. We will dive deep into the current record holder and its famous predecessor, exploring the technology that makes these aquatic giants possible.

The true record holder is measured by its sheer size in acres or square meters, a metric that has shifted the crown from South America to the Middle East. While one pool is famous for its length, the other is recognized for its immense surface area, a key distinction that resolves the long-standing debate. Prepare to explore the dimensions, locations, and incredible engineering feats behind the world's most massive swimming pools.

The Current World Record Holder: Citystars Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

The undisputed champion, holding the Guinness World Record for the largest man-made lagoon by area since 2015, is the colossal pool at the Citystars Sharm El Sheikh resort in Egypt. This breathtaking body of water is not just a pool; it is an artificial sea built in the arid environment of the Sinai desert.

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Unbelievable Dimensions and Location

• Location: Citystars Sharm El Sheikh Resort, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
• Official Title: Largest Man-Made Crystal Lagoon by Area.
• Size (Area): 96,800 square meters (9.68 hectares or 23.9 acres).
• Size (Length): Approximately 740 meters (2,430 feet).
• Volume: Requires millions of gallons of water.
• Water Source: The pool is filled with desalinated groundwater.

The Citystars lagoon is a central feature of a sprawling, multi-billion dollar real estate development. Its massive area is equivalent to more than 14 standard FIFA football pitches. This immense size allows the resort to offer a true beach experience, complete with sandy shores, in a location far removed from the natural sea.

The project showcases the incredible capability of modern engineering to create sustainable, crystal-clear aquatic environments anywhere in the world, even in the harsh climate of the Egyptian desert. The pool is a feat of water innovation, providing a permanent turquoise oasis for guests.

The Iconic Rival: San Alfonso del Mar, Chile

Before the Egyptian giant took the crown, the title of the world's largest swimming pool belonged to the lagoon at the San Alfonso del Mar resort in Algarrobo, Chile. This pool is arguably the most famous and is still often mistakenly cited as the current record holder due to its incredible length.

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A Kilometer of Pure Seawater

The San Alfonso del Mar lagoon, which opened in 2006, was the first project of its kind to gain global recognition, securing its own Guinness World Record at the time. Its primary claim to fame is its astounding length, which is nearly a kilometer long.

• Location: San Alfonso del Mar Resort, Algarrobo, Chile, on the Pacific Ocean coast.
• Size (Length): 1,013 meters (3,323 feet or 0.62 miles).
• Size (Area): 80,000 square meters (8 hectares or 19.8 acres).
• Volume: Holds approximately 250 million liters (66 million gallons) of water.
• Maximum Depth: 35 meters (115 feet), making it one of the deepest man-made pools.

What makes the Chilean pool unique is its source of water. It draws, filters, and treats water directly from the adjacent Pacific Ocean, maintaining a temperature that is typically several degrees warmer than the ocean water itself. The pool is so vast that guests can sail small boats and kayaks on it, offering activities usually reserved for a natural bay or lake.

The Technology Behind the Aquatic Giants: Crystal Lagoons

The reason both the Egyptian and Chilean pools share a similar monumental scale and crystalline clarity is the pioneering technology they both employ. The company responsible for the design and construction of these massive water bodies is Crystal Lagoons, founded by Chilean scientist, biochemist, and real estate developer, Fernando Fischmann.

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Fernando Fischmann and the Innovation

Fischmann developed and patented the Crystal Lagoons technology after facing significant challenges in maintaining a large, clear water feature at his San Alfonso del Mar development. His innovation is a sustainable, cost-effective system that allows for the construction and maintenance of vast, crystalline lagoons with minimal use of chemicals and energy.

The core of the technology involves a proprietary system of water treatment that uses up to 100 times fewer chemicals than conventional swimming pool disinfection systems and only 2% of the energy required by standard filtration technologies. This makes the creation of massive, turquoise lagoons environmentally and economically viable, even in remote or arid locations like the Sinai Desert.

The success of the San Alfonso del Mar project propelled Crystal Lagoons into a global enterprise. Today, the company has over 1,000 projects in various stages of development across 60 countries, bringing the "beach life" concept to landlocked areas and urban centers worldwide.

Other Contenders and Historical Giants

While the Citystars lagoon currently holds the area record, the history of monumental swimming pools is rich with other impressive contenders. These pools highlight different aspects of aquatic engineering, from historical significance to unique design. This list adds topical authority to the subject of massive resort pools and artificial lagoons.

The Historical Record Holder: Orthlieb Pool, Morocco

Long before the era of Crystal Lagoons, the title belonged to the Orthlieb Pool in Casablanca, Morocco. Inaugurated in 1934, this seawater pool was a symbol of the city's modernist ambition.

• Location: Casablanca, Morocco.
• Size: 480 meters (1,574 feet) long and 75 meters (246 feet) wide.
• Status: It was unfortunately demolished in the 1980s, but its legacy as the world's largest pool for decades remains.

The Thai Inland Sea: MahaSamutr Pool, Thailand

Another major project utilizing the Crystal Lagoons technology is the MahaSamutr Pool, located in Hua Hin, Thailand. This is one of the largest man-made lagoons in Asia.

• Location: Hua Hin, Thailand.
• Size: Spans approximately 7.2 hectares (17.8 acres).
• Features: It is the centerpiece of a luxury residential development, offering water sports like kayaking and paddleboarding.

North America’s Largest: Hansen Dam Aquatic Center, USA

For those interested in the largest pool in the United States, the title goes to the Hansen Dam Aquatic Center in Los Angeles County, California. While smaller than the Crystal Lagoons giants, it is a massive public facility.

• Location: Los Angeles County, California, USA.
• Size: Covers 6.26 acres.
• Features: It is a popular destination for families, offering a vast recreational swimming area separate from its competitive pool.

The Future of Mega-Pools and Artificial Lagoons

The competition for the title of the world's largest swimming pool is more than just a quest for a Guinness World Record; it represents a global trend in luxury real estate and sustainable water management. The success of the Citystars and San Alfonso del Mar projects has spurred a new wave of massive artificial lagoons around the globe.

The demand for these crystalline lagoons, often called Public Access Lagoons (PALs), is growing rapidly. These are man-made beaches and pools open to the public via an entrance fee, bringing the ultimate beach experience to urban centers far from the coast. This model is a significant part of Crystal Lagoons' expansion strategy, ensuring that the technology continues to shape the future of urban recreation and tourism. The development of new, even larger projects is constantly being announced, meaning the current record in Sharm El Sheikh may only be temporary. However, for now, the Egyptian desert holds the most coveted title in the world of aquatic architecture.