Spectacle of the seas: the largest aquariums in the world

Large aquariums are public viewing facilities that become important tourist attractions in various cities around the world.

And, in addition to playing an entertainment role, aquariums have an educational function, allowing people to see up close species of marine animals that they would never have been able to appreciate in person.

Furthermore, aquariums are important centers of Environmental Education, developing activities that involve adults and children in the valorization of Nature and the preservation of species. See the largest aquariums in the world.

10th place – Western Australian Aquarium – Located in the city of Perth, Australia. Opened in April 1988,

The giant reservoir holds more than 700,000 liters of salt water and is located in a tunnel where people walk 98 meters, appreciating its hundreds of species. The aquarium specializes in the animals that inhabit Western Australia’s 12,000km of coastline. Among these, the nurse shark, the loggerhead turtle, octopuses, rays and large sharks.

9th place – Aquarium of Genoa – Located in Genoa, Italy. Built for Expo 92 as a tribute to the navigator Christopher Columbus, discoverer of America, who was born in the city.

Located in the Porto Antico, the aquarium measures 3,000 m² and was created with the aim of highlighting species from the Ligurian Sea, the coral reefs of the North Atlantic and the Caribbean. Today it has 70 tanks with 6 million liters of water with 400 species from the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, including seals and penguins.

8th place – Shanghai Ocean Aquarium – Located in the city of Shanghai, China. Opened in 2002.

It has nine tanks with animals of 450 species, coming from 4 oceans and 5 continents. More than 20 thousand square meters with 400 thousand liters of water. The aquarium includes a 168-metre tunnel that takes visitors on a tour through the coral reef, open ocean, kelp cave and shark bay. People know species that inhabit different continents. These include the Chinese water dragon, the knifefish and the sand tiger shark.

7th – Ushaka Marine World – Located in the city of Durban, South Africa. Opened in 2004.

It has 32 4.6 million gallon tanks on an area of ​​17,500 m². It is part of a theme park that also has other attractions. The goal is to showcase not only the marine species found in the aquarium, but also promote interactive tours in which visitors participate in adventures in areas with reptiles and primates.

6th place – Monterey Bay Aquarium – Located in the city of Monterey, California (USA) – Opened in 1984.

Installed in a former sardine industry, it has two tanks with over 600 species. The largest tank has a capacity of 1.2 million litres, with one of the largest glass windows on the planet. It has 35,000 plants and animals of 623 species, including sharks and otters. From a dock, people can see sea lions in their natural environment.

5th place – Turkuazoo – Located in the capital Istanbul, Turkey. Opened in 2009.

It is home to more than 15,000 animals of 1,500 species in 4.5 million liters of water. It is home to several species of fish and is also notable for octopuses. Visitors follow a 1.2 km geographical route, with 16 zones. It also features a 5D cinema where audiences experience effects such as wind, water splashes and fog.

4th place – Oceanogràfic – Located in the city of Valencia, Spain. Opened in 2003.

It has a surface area of ​​110 thousand m² with 42 million liters of water. It is home to more than 45 thousand animals of 500 species, typical of different habitats. It has a dolphin tank, with presentations, and one involving sharks, rays and a wide variety of fish. The aquarium is so big that there is even a whale. And the tour lasts about 4 hours.

Addition: Oceanogràfic is located within the splendid City of Arts and Sciences, a tourist complex that stands out for the innovative architecture of Santiago Calatrava.

3rd place – Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium – Located in Okinawa City, Japan, opened in 2002.

It is spread over four floors on a plot of 19 thousand m2. It has 77 tanks with 10 thousand m³ of salt water. It is home to more than 800 species, including coral colonies. Water for the saltwater exhibits is pumped from a source 350 m offshore, day and night. Whale sharks and manta rays are among the highlights.

2nd place – Dubai Mall Aquarium – Located in the capital Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is located in the shopping center opened in 2008

The main tank measures 51 meters long, 20 meters wide and 11 meters high. It contains 33,000 animals, including sharks and rays, in 10 million liters of water. The aquarium has a thermoplastic tunnel that extends 48 meters, ensuring that people are surrounded by the animals. These include tiger sharks and rays. The aquarium offers experiences such as snorkeling or an oxygen tank in a shark area.

1st place – Georgia Aquarium – Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia (USA) – Opened in 2005.

The largest aquarium on the planet houses an astonishing 100,000 animals in 10 million liters of water. It is home to more than 500 marine species from different parts of the world, including Amazonian fish such as arapaima and pacus. The space offers dolphin shows. And it has 4D cinema for animal simulation experiences.