Located about 60 km from the southern boundary of Berlin, in the district of Dahme-Spreewald in Brandenburg, Germany, you will find the Brand-Briesen Airfield. It is housed in the former CargoLifter airship hangar known as the Aerium, the world’s biggest free-standing hall.
Tropical Islands
While we’re no stranger to enormous hangars left to the elements following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, this particular hangar, which was originally designed to protect large airships from the elements, offers a breath of fresh air.
On December 19, 2004, it opened it’s massive hangar doors to the public as the Tropical Islands resort, a self-contained holiday destination in the heart of Europe. Spoiler alert, it’s mind-blowing. See for yourself!
Tropical Islands
With over 66,000 m² (710,000 sq. ft) of floor space and 5 million m³ (176,573,333 cu. ft) of enclosed space, this old German airship hangar has been transformed into an incredible giant waterpark!
Tropical Islands
Look at the size of this thing. Amazing!
Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands was built by Tanjong, a Malaysian corporation. Tanjong purchased the property on June 11, 2003 for €17.5 million, of which €10 million was a subsidy from the federal state of Brandenburg.
Tropical Islands
The sheer size of the resort is mind-boggling! It can accommodate 6,000 people inside the dome at any one time. And guess what? It’s open around the clock, every day of the year with a temperature consistently locked at 26°C or 78.8 F.
Tropical Islands
With a surface area of 10,000 m² (107,600 sq. ft), the resort is home to the world’s largest indoor rainforest! Altogether, it has over 50,000 plants of 600 different species including palms, ferns, and mangroves. Winding through it all is a one-kilometer-long walking path for guests.
Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands
This giant waterpark’s “Tropical Sea” covers an area of 3,000 sq. m (32,000 sq. ft); that’s three times the size of an Olympic swimming pool.
“The water has a constant temperature of 28°C and there’s a 200-metre-long sandy beach. The 1,200-square-metre Lagoon has a constant temperature of 32°C. A counter-current, two water slides and whirlpools in the bays provide guests with some additional fun.”
Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands is also home to Germany’s highest water slide tower, which at 27 meters, is the same height as a four-storey building.
Tropical Islands
There are four different slides including a 76-metre power turbo slide that can reach speeds of up to 70kph. But that’s for the more adventurous guests, and if you’re not up to it, you can just laze nearby the waterfall for a more dramatic dip.
Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands
Inside the dome, there are 191 rooms and lodges with a total of 508 beds in two and four-bed rooms, 10 two-bed Adventure and Premium Lodges, 133 tents in the dome equipped with bed frames and mattresses in the Rainforest, and a Sunset Camp with a total of 350 beds, including: 91 tents with two beds and 42 with four beds.
Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands
There are also accommodations outside the dome. There’s a campsite with 65 standard pitches, 20 comfort pitches, 27 tepees, 7 wooden tepees, 23 Mobile Homes, 47 holiday homes, and 5,000 m² of tent space.
Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands
And if that’s not impressive enough, Tropical Islands also has a Tropical Sauna and Spa Complex with 7 different sauna attractions; the crystal steam bath in the Elephanta Temple, hot tubs in the Waiotapu hot tub complex, meditation rooms in the Asia House, stone sauna (with various kinds of showers) in the Angkor Wat Temple, jungle huts in the Jungle village, and a mud bath spa in the Alcantara Canyon.
Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands
Mind = blown! WOW!
Tropical Islands
Visit Tropical Islands’ website for more visitor and accommodation information. │ H/t Twisted Sifter