Tropical Islands Resort is an artificial tropical resort in Briesen/Brand, part of Halbe in Dahme-Spreewald, Brandenburg, Germany, about 60 km (37 mi) south-southeast of Berlin. 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).
It is inside a disused hangar 360 metres (1,181 ft) long, 210 metres (689 ft) wide and 107 metres (351 ft) 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.
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 rainforest, beach, artificial sun, palm trees, orchids, and birdsong. The air is kept at a warm 25 °C (77 °F). Tropical Islands is open all day, every day of the year.
The complex contains a large artificial rainforest, comprising over 30,000 cubic metres of soil with over 600 species of plants. It has over 29,000 plants covering the remaining space. Sounds of natural rainforests are broadcast throughout from speakers disguised as rocks or other natural features. In addition to the tropical plants there are also parrots, cockatiels and budgerigars living in the hangar.
The Tropical Village within the rainforest consists of food and beverage outlets. Other attractions found inside the Tropical Islands complex are a large beach, a Balinese lagoon, miniature golf, and a camping ground, where visitors can stay for the night inside the climate-controlled dome.
By altering the ticket price structure and adding new overnight accommodations, visitors attendance has been improved. According to the managing director Ole Bested Hensing, 2008 was the first time Tropical Islands Resort made a profit. This is a direct consequence of the increased accommodation capacity. It recorded 300,000 overnight stays.
