When did the first swimming pool come up? Where did the first swimming club come up and when? Which is the largest pool in the world? If you love swimming, then probably these questions would have come up in your mind. If you want to know about the history of swimming pools, then the answers to these questions would become evident. Ten varied and interesting facts about swimming pools and their history are presented in this article. These interesting facts will help you know about the pools where you love to spend time having fun.
1.History facts
It is interesting to know about the history of the swimming pool. What most people don’t know is that swimming pools are not new. They are as old as human civilization itself. The first swimming pool is believed to have originated during the time of the Indus Valley Civilization that existed in ancient India. The pool is known as the Great Bath. It was part of the communal baths that existed during those times. People would bathe in these tanks and swim. The Great Bath is located in Mohenjodaro, which is considered the cradle of human civilization. It is believed that this pool originated in the third millennium BCE. The pool with brick lining is 39 feet long and 23 feet wide.
2.When did the first modern pool originate?
The next fact we have for you is on the origin of the first modern swimming pool. In ancient times, pools were essentially public baths. The first modern swimming pool, built in the same way as it is seen today, came up in the early 20th century. This pool came up in 1907 and the location was Philadelphia. The clubhouse at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia hosted the first modern above-the-ground swimming pool.
3.Facts about domestic pools
Swimming pools were public pools where anyone who wanted to swim could visit. In the 20th century, people started having pools built in their pools. The domestic pools were earlier considered a luxury. They were to be found only in the homes of top businessmen or Hollywood stars. With innovations in the swimming pool industry, domestic pools became common and most homes started having pools. Thanks to the growth of fibreglass pools, domestic pools have become common. Australia is the country that has the higher number of domestic swimming pools in the world.
4.Facts about the largest and deepest pools
The largest swimming pool in the world can be found in Chile in South America. Algarobba is a place in Chile, where there is a resort known as San Alfonso del Mar. This resort is listed in the Guinness book of world records for having the largest swimming pool in the world. The pool is located in an area of 19.77 acres. It is 1013 metres long. The deepest point in the pool is 11 feet. It can hold around 66 million gallons of water. If you were wondering where the deepest pool in the world is, the answer is Padua, Italy. The pool known as Y-40 located in the Hotel Terme Millepini is the deepest indoor swimming pool in the world. Its depth is 42.15 metres or 138.3 feet.
5.Fact: Swimming is good for health
It is a fact that swimming is considered the best exercise. It exercises all the muscles of the body and is thus recommended for a complete workout. If you want to be fit and healthy, go for a swim daily. If you want to lose weight, one of the best ways to do it is by swimming. It is a cardio exercise that helps to strengthen your heart and help you burn fat fast. Because it provides a total workout, it helps you lose more weight than you would when you exercise on the ground.
6.The first swimming club
People who wanted to learn swimming had to enrol at a swimming club. It was a place that had a proper swimming pool where people could swim and also get lessons from trained instructors. Kent in Maidstone, Great Britain, is where the first-ever swimming club came up. The year was 1844! The Medway river in this area was considered a death trap and many people would die swimming in the river. The people of the area decided to start a swimming club to train people to swim to avoid these unnecessary deaths. The Maidstone Swimming Club was thus formed.
7.Swimming at the Olympics
Swimming is a full-fledged sport and professional swimmers take part in competitions across the world. The biggest of them is, of course, the Olympics. This is where swimmers can showcase their skills before the whole world and take on competitors from across the world. They can also win medals for their country. An interesting fact to note is that it was in 1896 that swimming became a part of the Olympics. It was in this year that the Olympic games featured swimming as an event.
8.Olympics, Australia, and Swimming
When we talk about swimming, we cannot miss talking about Australia. The country that has the most number of domestic swimming pools has produced many champion swimmers. Australia has a number of professional swimmers who take part in events like the Olympics. Two of the top Olympic swimmers from Australia are Leisel Jones and Ian Thorpe. Both of them have 9 Olympic medals to their credit.
9.Titanic and pools
The Titanic is a well-known ocean liner that has entered history books. There is another reason why it will always be remembered. This is because the first-ever swimming pool on an ocean liner was on the Titanic. Today pools have become common on ocean liners.
10.The highest swimming pool
Did you know where the highest swimming pool in the world is? It is in Yangbajain in Tibet. It has water from a hot spring and is located 4,200 metres above sea level.
We are sure all these interesting facts about the history of swimming pools would have been interesting. We hope you would have become inspired to start swimming after reading these facts.
