Imagine a beach. But this one is not on the ocean. This is Piscinão de Ramos. It is Rio’s giant saltwater pool. Welcome to a unique leisure spot in the heart of Rio de Janeiro.
Piscinão de Ramos is more than just a pool. It is a symbol of the Carioca suburbs. It is a postcard of the city. It is officially named Parque Ambiental da Praia de Ramos Carlos Roberto de Oliveira Dicró. Locals also call it Parque das Vizinhanças da Maré or Piscinão da Maré. But everyone knows it as Piscinão de Ramos.
This artificial beach and public saltwater pool sits in the Maré neighborhood. It is in Rio’s North Zone. The pool came to life during Anthony Garotinho’s government. It was built between 2000 and 2001. It opened in December 2001.
The park faced controversy. Some Cariocas saw it as a political move. Others worried about issues like water contamination and accidents. Despite these concerns, it quickly became a beloved spot.
The idea for Piscinão de Ramos was a state government project. It partnered with Petrobras. The goal was to create a safe place to enjoy the sea. Guanabara Bay’s beaches were heavily polluted. The pool offered a worry-free alternative. It also aimed to reduce drowning incidents.
The pool uses sea water. This lets people enjoy a beach-like experience. It is without the pollution of the bay. Piscinão de Ramos once hosted 60000 people in a single weekend. In 2012, it was renamed to honor the samba artist Carlos Roberto de Oliveira ‘Dicró’. He passed away that year.
The pool itself is massive. It covers 26414 square meters. It is lined with polyethylene. It holds 30 million liters of water.
Piscinão de Ramos has appeared in media. It featured in the novela O Clone. It was also in Amor e Intrigas. Christian Pior from Pânico na TV even visited. He interviewed people there. Luiza Zveiter from Globo News spent a day at Piscinão. She interviewed bathers and tasted local dishes. Anitta filmed part of her Girl From Rio music video there in 2021. She remembered her suburban Rio past.
Piscinão de Ramos is not in the Ramos neighborhood. It is in Maré. It is a place where people from favelas can relax. They can forget their problems. It makes you think about what is really important.
The pool’s construction cost R$18 million. Petrobras paid for it. This was compensation for an oil spill in Guanabara Bay.
Dicró starred in an ad for the pool’s opening. He sang about taking his mother-in-law to Ramos beach.
The government said the pool was needed. Nearby beaches were polluted. The area offered leisure activities. There were bicycle lanes and sports courts. The clean water was replaced every four days. It became a popular spot. It even inspired a similar project in São Gonçalo.
Today, Piscinão de Ramos remains a special place. It is a reminder of the joy. It is a place where people can come together. It is a true Rio experience.