Polski
Issue 7/2026, From the world, In this issue
Natural Pools of the World – Swimming Spots Created by Nature
Aug
They were formed without human intervention, without large-scale projects or architectural plans. Nature created them—in rocks, caves, karst sinkholes, and at the base of waterfalls. The world’s natural pools are places that have been shaped over thousands of years by water and local geological conditions.
How are natural pools formed?
Natural pools are the result of long-term geological, chemical, and hydrological processes. They form where water carves through rock, washes away limestone, and fills collapsed caves, craters, rock basins, or ledges at the base of waterfalls. Sometimes they are formed by karst processes, sometimes by volcanic activity, marine erosion, underground springs, or the deposition of minerals from thermal waters.
Each of these places looks different. Some natural pools take the form of deep wells hidden in the rocks, while others resemble rock basins, terraces, turquoise pools in canyons, or lagoons connected to the ocean.
Ik Kil, Mexico
The Yucatán Peninsula is a kingdom of cenotes—water-filled natural sinkholes and limestone caves. There are thousands of them. Some are open like wells, while others form underground systems of caves and passages, popular among divers.
Ik Kil is one of the most famous cenotes in Yucatán, located near Chichén Itzá—an ancient Mayan city and one of Mexico’s most important archaeological sites. It takes the form of an almost circular, collapsed limestone cave, open at the top and filled with cool, turquoise water. Its diameter is about 60 m, and its depth is about 40 m. The cenote’s vertical walls are covered with roots and vines that reach almost to the water’s surface. A staircase carved into the rock leads down to the pool.
Giola, Greece
Giola is located on the southern coast of the Greek island of Thassos. It is a small natural rock pool, separated from the open waters of the Aegean Sea by a rocky ledge. It is about 20 meters long, 15 meters wide, and up to about 3 meters deep.
The water at Gioli shimmers in shades of green and blue, and the surrounding rocks form natural terraces—the perfect place to relax. Waves regularly fill the pool, and the heated rocks make the water there sometimes warmer than in the nearby sea. It’s a rugged place, without sandy beaches or extensive infrastructure, but very characteristic of the rocky coast of Thassos.
Devil’s Pool, Zambia
Devil’s Pool is located on Livingstone Island, at the top of Victoria Falls, on the Zambian side. When the water level in the Zambezi River is low, a rocky pool forms right at the edge of the falls. You can take a dip in it and admire the surrounding scenery.
This place is accessible only during part of the year. Access to Devil’s Pool is usually possible from mid-August through the end of December, depending on the water level. Swimming is permitted only with a guide. A few meters away, the water plunges into one of the world’s most famous chasms.
Havasu Falls Pools, USA
Havasu Falls is located within the Havasupai Reservation in Arizona, in a side canyon of the Grand Canyon. Here, water cascades down red rocks into natural travertine pools and pools. Its blue-green color is due, in part, to the presence of calcium, magnesium, and calcium carbonate.
Minerals dissolved in the water gradually form rapids, cascades, and natural pools where you can swim. The whole scene is a blend of turquoise water, light-colored limestone deposits, and the red walls of the canyon. Access to Havasu Falls is limited, however—to reach the waterfall and take a dip, you must reserve a spot in advance.
To Sua Ocean Trench, Samoa
To Sua Ocean Trench is located on the island of Upolu in Samoa, in the town of Lotofaga. The name means “big swimming hole” and accurately describes the place: a natural basin filled with ocean water. It is about 30 meters deep, and you descend into the water via a long wooden ladder leading to a platform.
The pool is connected to the ocean by an underground channel, which is why the water has a seawater quality and an intense color. From above, To Sua looks like a green well in a tropical garden.
Pamukkale, Turkey
Pamukkale in Turkey is a system of natural terraces and basins filled with thermal water. The white walls are made of travertine, a rock formed from calcium carbonate deposits precipitated from hot, mineral-rich springs. From a distance, they resemble bright steps on a hillside.
This site is part of the UNESCO-protected Hierapolis-Pamukkale complex, which is why access to the most delicate terraces is restricted. Swimming is permitted only in designated areas to protect the structure and color of the travertine.
Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo, Azores
Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo lies about 500 m south of the town of Vila Franca do Campo, off the coast of São Miguel Island in the Azores. It is a small islet with an area of about 8 ha and a maximum elevation of 62 m. At its center lies an almost circular saltwater lagoon, sheltered from the open ocean by the walls of a former crater.
This natural pool was formed as a result of an undersea volcanic eruption. The islet is the remnant of a tuff cone, which over time was partially eroded by the sea and other factors. The interior of the crater filled with water, creating a calm lagoon connected to the Atlantic Ocean by a narrow isthmus.
Semuc Champey, Guatemala
Semuc Champey is located in the Alta Verapaz department, near the town of Lanquín. It is a natural limestone bridge approximately 300 meters long, with the Cahabón River flowing beneath it. A series of tiered, turquoise pools has formed on its surface, where visitors can swim.
The name Semuc Champey comes from the Q’eqchi’ language and means “the place where the river hides beneath the rocks.” This description captures the essence of the place well: the main current disappears beneath a limestone bridge, while calmer pools filled with crystal-clear water remain upstream.
Main photo: Vicente Villamón/Flickr
