Latest news with #aquarium
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
10 Best Aquariums Around the World to Visit
Father with daughter watching sharks in aquarium Oceans are often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth" because they play a crucial role in producing 50%-80% of the oxygen in our atmosphere and they absorb a significant amount of carbon dioxide, helping to regulate the Earth's climate. The growing interest in the welfare of our marine life and oceans has undoubtedly led to increased visits of the world's aquariums. While some aquariums focus primarily on entertainment, others are crucial for education, conservation and scientific research. Ethical aquariums aim to inspire ocean conservation, rehabilitate injured marine life and support research efforts that help protect vulnerable species. Here are ten of the world's best aquariums that do a good job in balancing entertainment and ethics. Underwater tunnel at Oceanografic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain The biggest aquarium in Europe, located in the stunning City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, is worth a visit for the architecture alone. The futuristic design features gleaming white concrete, glass and water in a complex of five buildings designed by famous Spanish architects Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela in 1998. The Oceanogràfic building houses around 45,000 animals and 500 species. The aquarium consists of ten different habitats, including a Mediterranean environment, the Arctic Ocean, the Red Sea and the tropics. A highlight is the longest underwater tunnel in Europe where you feel you're swimming with fish all around you, including beluga whales, Angel Sharks, Barrel Jellyfish and Blacktip reef sharks. Oceanário de Lisbon is located in Parque das Nações Opened in 1998, the Lisbon Oceanarium's permanent exhibition One Planet, One Ocean is a wonderful multi-sensory experience. The central aquarium represents the 'global ocean' and hosts about 500 species from four oceans, surrounded by four distinct marine habitats. Visitors can meet various species of sharks, sea otters, sunfish, puffins, sea dragons, clownfish, eels, rays and stunning corals, among many others. The aquarium is located in the Dock of Olivais, in the Park of Nations (the site of the 1998 World Expo) and has an excellent restaurant, SeaTheFuture, featuring a menu of organic, seasonal products from local producers. The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco The Musée Océanographique de Monaco opened by Prince Albert I in 1910, has one of the oldest aquariums in the world. From the start, the museum attracted the world-leading oceanographers (including Jacques Cousteau, director from 1957-1988) who developed the concept of a future Mediterranean Commission dedicated to oceanography, now called Mediterranean Science Commission. Four aquariums, specially designed to recreate complex ecosystems, include: the shark lagoon against the bright colors of a coral reef; the Mediterranean sea with 100 of the 650 species of fish living in the Mediterranean and more than 200 species of invertebrates; the tropical sea with deadly stonefish, clown fish and the unnerving moray eel. Red Blood Parrot in Monterey Bay Aquarium, California, USA Since opening in 1984, in a lovely oceanfront location, the aim of the nonprofit Monterey Bay Aquarium has been to inspire conservation of the ocean through its exhibits and research. When it opened, it was the largest public aquarium in the United States and the first in the world to exhibit a living kelp forest and to successfully care for and display a great white shark. Today the 28 feet tall and 65 feet long Kelp Forest exhibit is one of the main attractions of the aquarium. The Open Sea wing is also essential viewing, featuring three separate galleries with various jellyfish and other plankton found in the bay plus tufted puffins and sea turtles. Yellow Fish in S.E.A. Aquarium, Singapore With over 100,000 marine animals and 1,000 species distributed in 40 different environments, S.E.A. Aquarium which opened in 2012, is the fourth largest aquarium in the world. A highlight is the 36-meter underwater tunnel that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the water, viewing hammerhead sharks, eagle rays, giant groupers and the red-bellied pacu, a native species to Asia. The aquarium also houses rare and endangered species like the Bow mouth Guitarfish, Moray Eel and Blue Tang. Also on show are unique corals like the Bubble Coral and Sun Coral with explanations of the importance of coral reefs in the marine ecosystem. The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta Expect to see a wide range of the world's most fascinating animals and sea creatures from the African Penguin, Beluga Whale, California Sea Lion, Common Bottlenose Dolphin, Tiger Shark and Whale Shark. And speaking of the latter, this aquarium was actually designed around a whale shark exhibit, making it the first aquarium outside of Asia that hosts the giant species. The Georgia Aquarium, the largest in the world on opening in 2005, is on land donated by the Coca-Cola Company, just north of Centennial Olympic Park. Group of fishes and coral at Sea Life Aquarium, Sydney, Australia As one of world's newest aquariums, having opened in 2023, visitors can see over 4,000 animals from 300 different species, including large species such as tiger sharks and orcas. One of Sea Life e's highlights is the world's largest variety of Australian aquatic life, a rescue dugong called Pig. Another popular attraction is the Penguin Expedition Boat Ride, where you can see a spectacular colony of king and gentoo penguins. Also unmissable is the Great Barrier Reef exhibit, the largest in the world. National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, UK The largest aquarium in the UK, the National Marine Aquarium, is home to over 4,000 animals and features groundbreaking ocean conservation work, according to its website. The aquarium is also home to the Ocean Conservation Trust, a charity dedicated to connecting people with the ocean. There are lots of different exhibits and animals found in this harborfront museum. One exhibit shows some of the stunning and colorful animals found locally in the rockpools around the coast. The Eddystone Reef exhibit features local sharks and stingrays while the Ocean Drifters exhibit features mesmerising jellyfish. National Aquarium, Copenhagen, Denmark The striking architecture of Denmark's national aquarium, Den Bla Planet, which opened in 2013 was inspired by a whirlpool with visitors entering into the vortex – the curved lobby – and from here are drawn out to the 53 aquariums and installations. Inside you'll see what is described as 'the big five' – sea otters, hammerhead sharks, stingrays, giant Pacific octopus and the arapaima (one of the largest freshwater fish in the world.) Penguins in Alesund Aquarium, Norway Since 1998, the Atlanterhavsparken Foundation has been one of Northern Europe's largest and most unique saltwater aquariums. Animals and fish live in unfiltered water straight from the sea outside. The Atlantic Tank is one of Europe's largest saltwater tanks where you'll see all the large cold-water fish that live in our oceans. The aquarium is located in one of the world's most scenic locations, in Norway's western fjords. After exploring the aquarium, hike up to the Fjellstua Viewpoint. Be prepared for several hundred steps to get to the top but the views over the town and sea are worth the effort.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Singapore's mega-aquarium readies to reopen 3 times larger
A major attraction is set to return to the glittering city state of Singapore in triple the size this summer: the Singapore Oceanarium, a mega-aquarium located on the offshore island of Sentosa. Over the past three months, the former SEA Aquarium – already one of the largest in the world with more than 100,000 marine creatures – has been completely redesigned. The new facility is now three times larger and offers immersive experiences across 22 different zones, according to the operator Resorts World Sentosa. The opening date for the new Oceanarium is July 23. Among the themed zones are 'Ocean Wonders', featuring thousands of glowing blue moon jellyfish, and 'Singapore's Coast', which showcases mangrove landscapes and interactive habitats celebrating local biodiversity. A visitors takes pictures through a viewing panel at the old SEA aquarium on Sentosa Island. Photo: AFP In the 'Ancient Waters' section, visitors can marvel at life-size prehistoric animals and living fossils that trace evolution over time.
RNZ News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Kelly Tarlton: NZ's great treasure hunter
When you hear the name Kelly Tarlton, you probably picture the famous aquarium in Auckland - with its glass tunnels and circling sharks. But he was also New Zealand's most successful treasure hunter. Kelly Tarlton recovered millions in sunken gold, silver and jewels. He pioneered new methods of underwater excavation, and was on the brink of a brand new adventure when he died suddenly, just months after his aquarium opened - leaving behind one final, unfinished quest. In his new RNZ podcast, Kelly Tarlton's Final Treasure Hunt, journalist and storyteller Hamish Williams set out to complete that quest - to find a lost anchor dropped 250 years ago by one of the first European ships to reach Aotearoa. Along the way, Hamish uncovers an incredible story of obsession, risk, innovation, and the cost of chasing a dream. Hamish Williams talks to Kathryn about the astonishing story of Kelly Tarlton, and what he hopes to find at the bottom of Northland's Doubtless Bay. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Waikiki Aquarium welcomes rare Australian sea critter
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Juvenile weedy seadragons will be included in the Waikiki Aquarium's Amazing Adaptations Exhibit, making their debut on May 23. The unique sea creatures are rarely seen and were received through a special collaboration with Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at University of California San Diego. From Vegas to Hawaiʻi, your Memorial Day weekend food menus guaranteed to satisfy Prior to their debut, the seadragons completed a 21-day observational quarantine. The species is native to Australian waters and are related to seahorses and pipefish. Similar to seahorses, male weedy seadragons brood eggs and incubate them on the underside of their seadragons are known for their elaborate mating dance, where they spin snout-to-snout and move up and down in order to transfer eggs from the female to the male's tail, where they are then fertilized. The juvenile seadragons that can be found at the Waikiki Aquarium are smaller and less colorful than adult seadragons, but they already possess signature seadragon traits like their leaf-like appendages and elongated bodies. For more information on the Waikiki Aquarium and how to see the juvenile weedy seadragons, visit the aquarium's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Heartbreak as Sydney Zoo confirms shock death news
Two bull sharks have died from 'accidental impact' at Sydney Zoo. The zoo, located on the Great Western Highway in Eastern Creek took to social media on Friday to announce it was 'deeply saddened' by the loss of the two sharks. 'Extensive investigations by our animal care and veterinary staff, with support from external specialists, included comprehensive necropsies,' it said. 'These examinations found trauma consistent with accidental impact. 'While the precise cause cannot be definitively confirmed, preliminary findings suggest a combination of environmental and biological factors may have played a role in this isolated incident.' The zoo said all the other animals in the aquarium were healthy but were under observation, saying: 'The wellbeing of our animals remains our highest priority'. The bull shark section on the zoo's website has been taken down. Some Aussies lamented the fact the sharks had been kept in captivity. 'Sorry, but these sharks should never of been in captivity as bull sharks are not designed for tanks,' one person said. 'Translation: We put a species that needs a huge amount of space in an enclosed tank and they ran into the glass walls until it killed them,' another said. A third questioned 'how can it be isolated if two sharks collided with it?' 'Accidental impact from what? I think further explanation is owed here,' a fourth said. The wildlife is home to more than 4,000 animals. Bull sharks generally adapt well in captivity and thrive in many aquariums around the world. While their lifespan in the wild is typically 12 to 16 years, some have lived up to 30 years in captivity. Bull sharks are apex predators and grow to between two to four metres long and can weigh up to 600kg. They are one of the most aggressive species of shark in the world and are responsible for attacks because they can survive in fresh water. Sydney Zoo was contacted for comment by Daily Mail Australia.
