Wave pool

A wave pool is a special kind of swimming pool where big waves are created to feel just like the ocean. These pools are very popular in places called water parks, which can be inside buildings or out in the open air. They are also found in some leisure centres where people go to relax and have fun. Wave pools let visitors enjoy the feeling of the sea without leaving the comfort of a safe, controlled environment.

History

Wave pools have a long history, dating back to the 1800s. One famous story tells of a ruler who tried to make waves on a lake by using electricity.

Over the years, many places built wave pools. In the early 1900s, a spot in Germany used floating platforms to push water and create waves. Later, a public pool in Germany became the first to use a special machine for making waves.

Other places followed, like a famous bath in Budapest, Hungary, and a pool in London, England. In the 1960s, a pool in Japan became the first where people could surf on the waves, even if only for a short time each hour.

In the United States, several places claim to have created the first wave pools. One of the earliest was opened in Ohio in 1961, and the first indoor wave pool opened in Illinois in 1982. Today, some wave pools, like one at a Disney park, are very large and have strong waves for people to enjoy.

Operation

Wave pools mimic the ocean's movement in different ways, depending on the pool's size and the type of waves wanted. The part that makes the waves is usually at the far end of the pool, where it is deepest. Some wave pools have a deeper floor in front of the wave machine, which then rises quickly to help shape the waves, like at World Waterpark's Blue Thunder Wave Pool.

There are a few ways to create these waves:

• Compressed air: Air is blown onto the water in a special chamber under the surface. When the air hits the water, it pushes it down to make waves. This can be done by turning air pumps on and off or by opening and closing valves.
• Paddle/Panel: A panel pushes the water to make waves. Behind it, a hydraulic or pneumatic piston moves the panel back and forth. This method is used less now because it needs a lot of care. An example is World Waterpark's Blue Thunder Wave Pool.
• Water tank: This is often the strongest way. Large tanks of water are pumped full, and then a valve opens to let the water flow into the pool, creating big waves. Sometimes this makes a loud roaring sound as the air fills the empty spaces. Examples include Siam Park's Wave Palace and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon.

Types and locations

Wave pools are special swimming pools that make big waves, like the ocean. Most of them use fresh water and are found away from the coast, but some big ones near the beach use salt water. These pools are usually larger than regular swimming pools and are often placed in parks or big open spaces.

Some wave pools, like those made by Wavegarden at Lost Shore and NLand, are built for surfing instead of swimming. They create much bigger waves. Other surfing wave pools include Surf Ranch from Kelly Slater Wave Company, Surf Lakes, Webber Wave Pools and Okahina Wave. While you can surf on a static surf simulator, it is not as real as surfing in a wave pool.

Safety

Wave pools can be harder to keep safe because the moving water and sun glare make it tough for lifeguards to watch everyone. Special camera systems that usually help find people in trouble don’t work in wave pools. There are also worries about keeping the water clean because it’s hard to add the right chemicals.

In the 1980s, some people had trouble staying safe at a big wave pool in New Jersey at Action Park. Lifeguards had to help many visitors who thought they could swim better than they really could.

Record holders

The biggest wave pool in the world by size is in Bangkok at Siam Park City. It covers 13,600 square metres.

The largest indoor wave pool, called "Blue Thunder," is found at World Waterpark inside West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta. It spans 42,000 square feet. The tallest artificial waves, reaching up to 3.3 metres high, are at Siam Park in the Canary Islands.