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If you like doing laps in the swimming pool, you might want to stock up on the energy drinks before diving in to this one.

It is more than 1,000 yards long, covers 20 acres, had a 115ft deep end and holds 66 million gallons of water.

Yesterday the Guinness Book of Records named the vast pool beside the sea in Chile as the biggest in the world.

But if you fancy splashing out on one of your own - and you have the space to accommodate it - then beware: This one took five years to build, cost nearly 1billion and the annual maintenance bill will be 2million.

The man-made saltwater lagoon has been attracting huge crowds to the San Alfonso del Mar resort at Algarrobo, on Chile 's southern coast, since it opened last month.

Its turquoise waters are so crystal clear that you can see the bottom even in the deep end.

It dwarfs the world's second biggest pool, the Orthlieb - nicknamed the Big Splash - in Morocco , which is a mere 150 yards long and 100 yards wide. An Olympicsize pool measures some 50 yards by 25 yards.

Chile's monster pool uses a computer- controlled suction and filtration system to keep fresh seawater in permanent circulation, drawing it in from the ocean at one end and pumping it out at the other.

The sun warms the water to 26c, nine degrees warmer than the adjoining sea.

Chilean biochemist Fernando Fischmann, whose Crystal Lagoons Corporation designed the pool, said advanced engineering meant his company could build 'an impressive artificial paradise' even in inhospitable areas.

'As long as we have access to unlimited seawater, we can make it work, and it causes no damage to the ocean.'

Hmmm...pool, or ocean. Both very inviting.

"I have a pool, and a pond. A pond would be good for you."

--Ty Webb, to Carl Spackler

I've often wondered why resports by the ocean feature a swimming pool. Don't they have swimming pools back home, wherever you're from?!

I have stayed at a place where the ocean floor was too rocky for you to really get in it; so having a pool there made sense.
And they did have a bar in the pool as well, which was nice. Can you put a bar in the ocean? I want to go to a bar in the ocean now.

Of course when you're on a bar in the ocean, there's the danger of falling off.

coz some people don't want to swim where sea monsters live, ya ninny! SEA MONSTERS!

I'd prefer the ocean, myself. A floating ocean bar, I'm sure it's done somewhere. My new career dream.

Safer.

But c'mon... if you're going to all that effort, remove the damn salt already. Sure, Chlorine is icky, but it doesn't make you barf in the way salt water does. or fuck with your eczema and dry your skin. Quite so much.

That is so frickin awesome. I've been wanting to go to Chili for a while.... but holy shit, now I wanna go there NOW! I

floating a pool next to the ocean.

Give me an ocean anytime. I love fighting the wild waves, always fun trying to keep the suits on.... pick the right place and you don't have to worry about it. I loved Hedo 2, only thing you needed to wear was water socks.. Found out that the hard way stepping on a sea urchin the first day out.

Oh to be back at the beach.... guess its not going to happen again any time soon.

It was hard giving up the great vacations, but sanity is much more useful. Or at least the essence of sanity.

Meh, I like the ocean, but mainly for the sand activities...which is weird, coz I hate sand.

Pool by the ocean is perfect!!

They had this resort on Getaway (Australian travel show) recently. I was amazed at the time, but thought what a cool place it'd be to go.

I think the idea of it being salt is great. Much healthier than chlorine, specially if it's being 'refreshed' every day. I don't think you'd get me out of that pool if I was there...specially if it's got a floating bar!

Please tell me how they are going to keep a ton of algae from taking it over?

I bet it's really just the hotel waste water settling pond.

San Alfonso has been open for a couple of years now. This is just a more public relaunching. The pool has been working flawlessly all this time.

I've been there a couple of times, thought not in the resort itself. The water in this part of the pacific is incredibly cold, so a warmer pool by the sea is just nice. And if you can learn how to use a sailboat in it, well, that's even better, don't you think?

This year I'll be going there. It's not that expensive.

How many children peeing does it take to warm that water?

I personally prefer pools to the ocean. Fish fuck in the ocean. Male and FEMALE fish! TOGETHER!!! Just not natural.

Leus, what time of year is the weather nice there? Is there a prime season where it gets really crowded like up here? (July4-Aug 31)