Tropical Islands Resort is an artificial tropical resort in Krausnick, Germany. It is said to have the world's largest tropical indoor pool which can accommodate up to 8,000 visitors a day. It is also the world's largest indoor waterpark at 66,000 m² (710,000 sq feet).
The resort is located in Briesen/Brand, part of Halbe in Dahme-Spreewald, Brandenburg, Germany, about 60 km (36 miles) south-southeast of Berlin, off the Staakow exit of the A13 Autobahn. It is inside a disused hangar 360 metres long, 210 metres wide and 107 metres high. At 5.5 million m³ (194 million ft³), it stands as one of the largest buildings on Earth by volume, and is the world's largest single hall without supporting pillars inside. The hangar cost €78 million and was originally commissioned by Cargolifter AG as an airship hangar named Aerium, but the airship it was intended to house – the CL160 – was never built.
The Malaysian Tanjong company bought the hangar and the surrounding real estate for €17.5 million and turned it into a resort with a man-made tropical habitat. It opened on December 19, 2004. The resort has an exotic environment with rain forest, beach, artificial sun, palm trees, orchids, and birdsong. The air is kept at a warm 25 °C (77 °F). Tropical Islands is open around the clock, every day of the year.
The complex contains a large artificial rainforest. The rainforest contains over 30,000 cubic metres of soil with over 500 species of plants. It has over 29,000 trees and plants and creepers covering the remaining space. Sounds of natural rain forests are broadcast throughout from speakers disguised as rocks or other natural features.
The Tropical Islands Rainforest is a natural biotope. To keep pests such as the banana moth under control, they use beneficial organisms. These useful insects also help keep the soil from becoming overly compacted. One of the useful insects you might come across is pycnoscelus surinamensis – also known as the Surinam cockroach. The cockroaches and beetles found in the Tropical Rainforest are in no way harmful or dangerous. In fact, they're essential for sustaining the natural ecological environment. For example, they help turn the leaves falling onto the ground into top soil. Population is controlled in a natural way: the eye-catching gold pheasant, blue-breasted quail, peacocks and geckoes in the rainforest ensure that a natural balance is maintained.
The Tropical Village within the rainforest consists of food and beverage outlets.
Helium balloons with room for two people offer rides within the dome at a time up to 60 metres above the ground.
Other attractions found inside the Tropical Islands complex are a large beach, a Balinese lagoon and a camping ground, where visitors can stay for the night inside the climate-controlled dome.
