Indoor tropical oasis

Visitors swim in the lagoon at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

A couple from the east German city of Chemnitz lounge with their son at the "South Sea" beach at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Located on the site of a former Soviet military air base, the resort occupies a hangar built originally to house airships designed to haul long-distance cargo. Tropical Islands opened to the public in 2004 and offers visitors a tropical getaway complete with exotic flora and fauna, a beach, lagoon, restaurants, water slide, evening shows, sauna, adventure park and overnights stays ranging from rudimentary to luxury. The hangar is tall enough to enclose the Statue of Liberty.

Snow surrounds the giant hangar that houses the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 13, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Visitors swim in the lagoon at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

A maintenance worker walks past tents used for overnight guests at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Visitors lounge on a deck that overlooks the "South Sea" beach at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

People wait to depart after spending a day at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Visitors look down from a deck above the "South Sea" beach at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Visitors lounge at the "South Sea" beach at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Visitors walk among the Thai House, left, and other restaurants at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Visitors lounge at the "South Sea" beach at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Visitors slide down the water slide at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Visitors ride innertubes down a waterslide at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Visitors lounge at the "South Sea" beach at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

A visitor looks at a display of tropical insects and spiders at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Visitors lounge at the "South Sea" beach at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Evening descends on the beach of the "South Sea" at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Visitors walk past a cottage for overnight guests at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Visitors lounge at the "South Sea" beach at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Live flamingos stand in their enclosure at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Visitors explore the Tropino children's adventure park at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Visitors walk past a cottage for overnight guests at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Visitors swim in the lagoon at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Visitors lounge at the "South Sea" beach at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Young visitors stand under a palm tree at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

A young boy rides in the basket of a balloon as he looks down at the Thai House, left, and other restaurants located in the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

A live, free-flying canary stands on the deck at the "South Sea" beach at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

A visitors enjoys an ice cream near the lagoon at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.

Visitors lounge at the "South Sea" beach as a hot air balloon passes nearby at the Tropical Islands indoor resort on Feb. 15, 2013, in Krausnick, Germany.