Why would you put the world’s largest swimming pool on the oceanfront?

Is it just me or does it seem incredibly wasteful and ridiculous to place the world’s largest swimming on the beautiful oceanfront?

It belongs to San Alfonso del Mar Resort in Algarrobo, Chile.  According to a post on the Daily Mail website, it is more than 1,000 yards long, covers 20 acres, had a 115ft deep end, holds 66 million gallons of water and is in the Guiness Book of World Records. On the resort website they have a link to this satellite photo:

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6yHhScgxqI]
YouTube – World’s largest swimming pool

Okay, they say that the waves and currents on the Chilean coast can be pretty treacherous, but come on, do you really need a pool this big?

This is the type of extravagance that Americans are usually accused of but I’m glad it’s not the case.