There are more wonders in the sea than on land. Although, it doesn’t compare with the real experience, the large aquariums duplicate the beauty of marine life as much as possible. They are the perfect destinations to enjoy the sight of marine creatures in proximity. Here is the list of 10 most amazing aquariums in the world.
10 Most Amazing Aquariums in the world:
10. Aquarium of Western Australia, Perth
The Aquarium of Western Australia (AQWA) is the largest aquarium in Australia. Its main tank, holding nearly 8, 00,000 gallons of seawater, is one of the largest in the world. Australian coastal creatures are the special feature of the aquarium, which houses animals like stingrays, whale sharks, crocodiles and black tip sharks. For those who are not satisfied from an outside view, there is facility to explore the main tank with a dive master for an additional fee.
9. Turkuazoo Aquarium, Istanbul
Opened in 2009, the Turkuazoo aquarium is located inside Forum Istanbul Shopping Mall. It is funded by the public, and displays the variety of native marine life. Its thirty exhibition areas are divided into different zones, dedicated to tropical seas, rainforests and flooded forests. From piranhas to tiger sharks, the aquarium houses more than 10,000 marine creatures. It also features an underwater tunnel with a length of 80 meters.
8. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Okinawa
Opened in 2002 as a part of Ocean Expo Park, the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is one of the prominent amazing aquariums in the world. Its major attraction is the main tank itself, named Kuroshio Sea, which holds approximately two million gallons of water. The tank’s acrylic glass panel once was the largest of its kind in the world. Whale, Sharks, Sardines and Manta rays are the major attractions of the aquarium.
7. Dubai Mall Aquarium, Dubai
The Dubai Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in the world, also houses one among the world’s largest and most amazing aquariums. Holding 2.64 million gallons of water, the Dubai Aquarium and Discovery Center is home to 33,000 marine creatures across nearly 90 species. Its 8.3 meters-high and 32.88 meters-wide acrylic panel is the largest of its kind in the world.
6. Monterey Bay Aquarium, California
Seals, whales, jelly fish, wolf eels, sardines and sharks are among the residents of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, one of the prominent and most amazing aquariums in the American continent. Opened in 1984, it works with a conservative perspective, housing many endangered creatures. Two gigantic water tanks form the center of attraction of the complex. The Oceans Edge Wing, a 10 meter high tank is dedicated to the coastal life of California while the much larger Outer Bay Wing displays various other sea creatures. There are around 35,000 residents across more than 600 species in the aquarium.
5. Ushaka Marine World, Durban
The Ushaka marine world is not a mere aquarium, but a wonderful theme park as well. The complex houses 32 tanks, holding a million gallons of water. Various marine creatures are protected there, ranging from sea horses to dolphins and sharks. It is built in the model of a shipwreck, giving the complex a unique charm. There are numerous cafes and shops for those who enjoy shopping, and one of the cafes is worth mentioning. The Cargo Hold restaurant is a special one, where customers can enjoy food while surrounded by a massive tank housing sharks.
4. Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, Shanghai
One of the largest and most amazing aquariums in Asia, Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is divided into nine different zones, each representing the marine life of a different part of the world. These include the Antarctic zone, Australia zone and the most famous of them all, the China zone. China zone houses various indigenous species, mostly from Yangtze river. The most spectacular feature of the aquarium is the 155 meters long underwater tunnel, the longest of its kind in world. A walk through this tunnel is a unique experience, surrounded by various marine creatures.
3. L’Oceanografic, Valencia
A part of a complex called the City of Arts and Sciences in the Spanish city, L’Oceanographic is a large marine complex. It houses the largest and most amazing aquariums in Europe, which can hold 1.9 million gallons of water. Featuring nine underwater towers, the aquarium is home to more than 45,000 marine animals across 500 species. The aquarium is divided into several sections representing different ecosystems, and one can enjoy the sight of creatures ranging from birds to mammals.
2. Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta
One of the biggest and most amazing aquariums in the world, the Georgia Aquarium is home to more than 1,20,000 aquatic creatures, distributed across 500 species. The aquarium was opened in 2005, on the $250 million donation by Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus. It has 60 exhibition sections, divided into 5 zones; Ocean voyager, Georgia explorer, Tropical diver, River scout and Cold water quest. The main rank of the Ocean voyager zone holds 6.3 gallons of water and houses whale sharks, the only one outside Asia to do so.
1. SEA Aquarium, Singapore
The South East Asia Aquarium, opened in 2012, is the second largest aquarium, and also the top name on the Most Amazing Aquariums list. It is a part of Resort World Sentosa complex. The aquarium holds 12 million gallons of water and houses more than a hundred thousand marine animals across 800 species. The major attractions include manta rays, dolphins, scalloped hammerhead sharks, the Japanese spider crab. Its 27 ft high window pane in the Open Ocean section is also the second biggest of its kind.
