Nature instead of chlorine: TRAVELBOOK shows 20 beautiful pools from different places in the world that were created by nature.
Dive into the cool water on a beautiful summer day. Surrounded by tropical trees, next to a spectacular waterfall. Sounds good? This dreamlike form of a natural swimming pool can be found in countless places around the world, in the midst of nature. And not just this type of natural pool. Because nature creates the most beautiful architecture in many places: in volcanic rock, under waterfalls, between rocks, etc.
This is also demonstrated by the images in the TRAVELBOOK photo gallery of the most beautiful natural pools around the world.
20 beautiful natural pools around the world
In the middle of the forest near Savonlinna, Finland, this small natural pool is very quiet and darkPhoto: Getty ImagesOn the Portuguese island of Madeira, near Seixal, a woman lies in a natural pool next to crashing sea wavesPhoto: Getty ImagesLagoa de Pau Pique is a lake in a volcanic crater on the Portuguese Azorean island of São MiguelPhoto: Getty ImagesIceland is known for its spectacular natural phenomena, such as the rushing waters under the Aldeyjafoss waterfallPhoto: Getty ImagesNatural pool between natural rocks and flowing water in Watkins Glen State Park in the US state of New YorkPhoto: Getty ImagesLooking into the gorge below the massive Papapapatitai Falls on the island of Upolu in the Pacific island nation of SamoaPhoto: Getty ImagesThere are numerous cenotes in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. These are underground caves with water, created by the collapse of a limestone cover.Photo: Getty ImagesThis small oval natural pool with its turquoise water is located in the Swiss AlpsPhoto: Getty ImagesAn impressive natural blue pool has formed under the famous Rio Celste waterfalls in Costa Rica’s Tenorio National ParkPhoto: Getty ImagesThis round natural pool is located on the volcanic crater island of Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo, off the Portuguese island of São Miguel, in the AzoresPhoto: Getty ImagesA natural turquoise pool can also be found under the towering Havasu Falls. They can be found on the Havasupai Indian Reservation, which is located in a remote part of the Grand Canyon National Park in the US state of ArizonaPhoto: Getty ImagesThe Terme di Saturnia (Terme di Saturnia) are a group of hot springs in Tuscany, ItalyPhoto: Getty ImagesBathing under dramatically falling water masses – this is possible, for example, in the natural pool of the Tiu Kelep waterfall in IndonesiaPhoto: Getty ImagesClear water in Crestasee, a swimming pool created by nature in the canton of Grisons in SwitzerlandPhoto: Getty ImagesA natural swimming pool in the Valle Verzasca, a valley in the Swiss canton of TicinoPhoto: Getty ImagesA beautiful natural pool has also formed before and below this waterfall in Erawan National Park, ThailandPhoto: Getty ImagesIn the tourist destination of Ubud in Bali, this natural pool is located under the Tibumana waterfallPhoto: Getty ImagesA natural swimming pool in Germany: under the Buchenegger waterfalls near Oberstaufen in the Bavarian OberallgäuPhoto: Getty ImagesA small natural pool is also found under Thailand’s largest waterfall, the impressive 250m high Thi Lo Su WaterfallPhoto: Getty ImagesThe Bassin des Aigrettes is a charming natural swimming pool on the island of ReunionPhoto: Getty Images
How are natural pools formed?
The images above show: Natural pools are created in very different ways. Sometimes volcanic rock solidifies in cavities, forming natural barriers where seawater collects at high tide. Beautiful natural pools in volcanic craters can be visited, for example, on the island of São Miguel in the Azores. Sometimes natural pools are also formed by erosion. For example, when river water makes its way through rock layers of different strengths and long-term waterfalls are formed. Then they often fill basins with water – et voilà: a natural swimming pool is created.
Another very unique form of natural pools are cenotes in Mexico. Here the underground streams were discovered by the collapse of the cave ceilings. There are said to be thousands of these underground natural pools in the state of Quintana Roo and the Yucatan peninsula. Some can only be reached by a strenuous hike through the jungle, others are more easily accessible and have now been converted into public swimming pools.
