Commonly found in Europe, natural swimming pools are chemical-free and need less maintenance than traditional pools. They don’t cost more to build, and because they don’t need regular infusions of expensive chemicals, they cost less to operate (and take less time). And no energy is needed to run a filter, so they are overall lower-impact, environmentally.

Natural pools also offer an original canvas on which to do some original landscaping, utilizing water plants and flowers that might not grow well elsewhere. And those plants will serve a purpose beyond their beauty; they filter the water too. But don’t worry—you won’t be swimming with those plants—in most natural pool systems these plants are actually kept separate from the swimming area, which you might notice in a few of the examples below.

Stylish Contemporary Touch

This natural pool in Australia is sleek and modern, proving that natural pools can be adapted to suit almost any home and garden style.

You’ll have to look closely at this pool to see that the central, deeper area is actually surrounded by a water-covered shallower basin (over which the footbridge passes) where the filtering plants live.

You can put a natural pool anywhere you would put a traditional pool—including atop a hill with a beautiful vista, like this one.

This Woodhouse Natural pool in Oxfordshire, England, is a beauty of simplicity, showing exactly how you can integrate a sleek rectangle into a natural environment.

A Relaxing Natural Retreat

This Nantucket natural pool almost looks like a natural pond until you look closely and see the built stone edges. It’s the perfect spot to relax if you want to switch it up after time at the beach and in salt water.

A waterfall is the ultimate accompaniment to a natural pool—not only beautiful to behold, falling water also creates a peaceful, relaxing sound.

The natural landscaping and woodsy environment this pool lives in (and its several parts) makes it incredibly romantic—and likely very relaxing as well: Just imagine how the birds would be singing above your head as you float along.

This large human-made pond is ideal for swimming, and the sweet round “pond house” picks up where a traditional pool house leaves off, not only providing a changing area, but a pretty visual as well—not to mention a reason for a bridge.