Cool & Interesting Pool Facts

Spending hours swimming and lounging by a pool is a regular part of life here in Florida. Even though going to the pool is a big part of your life, you might not know a lot about the history of pools and the benefits of swimming. We’ve put together this list of 15 of our favorite fun facts about swimming and pools that you can impress your friends and family this summer.

Pool Trivia

1. There are more than 300,000 public swimming pools in the U.S. and over 10 million private swimming pools.
2. Inground pools are more popular than above ground pools in the U.S. but only by 3%.
3. The largest swimming pool built in the U.S. was the Fleishhacker Pool in San Francisco, CA. It was a public saltwater swimming pool that opened on April 23, 1925. It measured 1,000 ft by 150 ft. The lifeguards had to use kayaks to patrol it because it was so large. It was forced to close in 1971.
4. Home swimming pools didn’t become popular until after World War II. The trend was sparked by famous films at that time, like Esther Williams’ Million Dollar Mermaid.
5. If you want to visit the world’s largest swimming pool, you’ll have to travel to Algarrobo, Chile. According to Guinness World Records, the San Alfonso del Mar Seawater pool holds the record. It opened in December 2006. It’s 3,324 ft long and covers 20 acres.

Swimming Trivia

1. In the U.S., swimming is the most popular activity for children and teens from ages 7 to 17 years old. It’s the fourth most popular activity overall.
2. Marco Polo is the most beloved and played pool game.
3. Jumping in by cannonball is the most popular way to get into a pool.
4. You can burn more calories in an hour of vigorous swimming than walking or biking. You can burn up to 650 calories per hour. The reason why is that water exerts more than 10 times the resistance of air.
5. Swimming is an excellent cardiovascular exercise. It strengthens your heart and lungs.
6. Water exercises are ideal for physical therapy and rehabilitation because they are low-impact. The buoyancy of water alleviates pressure on your joints.
7. If you want to work out your whole body, you should try swimming. It works out all your body’s major muscles.
8. Along with being an excellent exercise, swimming is relaxing.
9. It is important to stay hydrated when you swim. Even though you don’t feel sweaty, your body still sweats in the water.
10. Florida is the only state with a law that requires lifeguards and swim instructors to be certified to teach swimming.

If you need help cleaning, repairing or remodeling your pool this summer, we can help! Pool Works has been a trusted pool service in the Lakeland area since 1984. We are members of the FSPA (Florida Swimming Pool Association) because we know how important it is to keep up with the latest training and certifications. Our family-owned business is committed to providing the best quality pool maintenance and repair services.