#1 Chimelong (Hengqin) Ocean Kingdom
Location: Hengqin (Zhuhai), People’s Republic of China
According to the Guinness World Records, Hengqin Ocean Kingdom, in the Guangdong Province of China, is the world’s largest aquarium. The 12.87 million US gallons ocean theme park opened in 2014 and now attracts millions of visitors. The seven displays, including a “Whale Shark Exhibit”, are designed to help visitors experience life in the deepest of oceans. The Chimelong Ocean Kingdom is spread over 132 hectares area and houses an incredible collection of sea creatures including 10 whale sharks and a number of dolphins.
#2 S.E.A. Aquarium (South East Asia Aquarium)
Location: Resorts World Sentosa (Sentosa Island), Singapore
The South East Asia Aquarium on Sentosa Island is home to a spectacular number of marine animals displayed in 12 million gallon tanks. There are about 100,000 sea animals (800 species) including exotic varieties such as bottlenose dolphins, giant oceanic manta rays, scalloped hammerhead sharks, leopard sharks, white spotted jellyfishes, and Japanese spider crabs. The S.E.A. Aquarium is part of the Resorts World Sentosa, an integrated resort and entertainment complex on Sentosa Island that attracts millions of visitors each year.
#3 Georgia Aquarium
Location: Atlanta (Georgia), USA
The Georgia Aquarium was opened to the public in 2005. The main donors who funded the aquarium were American philanthropist Bernard Marcus ($250 million) and major corporations ($40 million). Over 100,000 sea creatures and marine life species are housed in gigantic tanks totaling to over 10 million gallons in capacity. The aquarium became the first outside Asia to house a display of whale sharks. Spread over 5.1 hectares, the aquarium is one of the few places where you can see rare but beautiful marine species such as bottlenose dolphins, beluga whales, and manta rays.
#4 L’Oceanografic
Location: Valencia, Spain
Located in the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia Spain, the L’Oceanogràfic is a spectacular marine complex with huge tanks each of them representing a different marine habitat. It is the largest aquarium in Europe and home to over 45,000 water creatures. Together these habitats hold over 11 million liters of water and marine life. Huge sharks, dolphins, walruses, sea lions, and penguins can be seen here. The L’Oceanogràfic was opened to the public in 2003. The complex is built in nine underwater towers, each built over two levels. The complex is a great tourist attraction in Spain.
#5 The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Location: Future World at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort (Orlando, Florida), USA
Holding over 5.7 million gallons of marine habitats, The Seas with Nemo and Friends is a fascinating experience, especially for children and young adults. In 2003, Disney took over The Living Seas aquarium of Orlando and remodeled it to reflect their movie Finding Nemo. The theme park features a ride in a “clamobile” which takes visitors through various tanks filled with sharks, jellyfishes, sword fishes and many other marine creatures. Alongside these, animated characters from Finding Nemo seem to swim and search for the lost fish.
#6 Dubai Mall Aquarium
Location: Dubai, UAE
It is only befitting that one of the world’s largest and most spectacular aquariums is housed in one of the largest malls of the world. The Dubai Mall Aquarium is home to 400 sharks, rays and some 33,000 other marine creatures. One of the world’s largest suspended aquariums it holds up to 2.64 million gallons at a time and offers unique rides such as the cage snorkelling experience and glass bottom boat rides. It has over 140 species of aquatic animals and marine creatures and is located at the ground level of the mall.
#7 Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Location: Motobu (Okinawa), Japan
Located in the Ocean Expo Park of Motobu, the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is not only one of the largest in the world, it also houses some rare species of sea creatures such as the whale sharks and manta rays. Head to the Kuroshio Sea Tank display at the park and experience the amazing life underwater. A combined capacity of 2.6 million gallons are home to a numerous varieties of tropical fishes, and some 80 kinds of coral reefs. The aquarium was opened to the public in 2002 and has been a great hit among visitors.
#8 Istanbul Aquarium
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
The Istanbul Aquarium or Istanbul Akvaryum is now one of the main attractions of Turkey. 64 tanks of about 1.8 million gallons of sea life showcase some 16 themes of marine life. The aquarium holds almost all of Turkey’s known sea creatures and fishes. There are about 1500 species of sea creatures in this aquarium which was opened to the public in 2011.The special Black Sea habitat is its key attraction and a 1.2 kilometer tunnel offers visitors a true underwater experience.
#9 Acquario di Genova
Location: Genoa, Italy
Member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), the Acquario di Genova or the Aquarium of Genoa is one of the largest aquariums of Europe and is home to over 1.6 million gallons of aquatic display. With over 500 species of ray fishes, dolphins, seals, and other creatures from the Red Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean, this 33,000 square foot aquarium has 71 tanks. The Acquario di Genova attracts some 1.2 million tourists and visitors each year and is one of the best educational experiences in the country.
#10 Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
Location: Toronto (Ontario), Canada
With about 1.5 million gallons (5.7 million litres) of oceanic and freshwater exhibits, the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is one of the most stunning aquariums in the country. The aquarium is best known for its display of baby hammerhead sharks, jellyfish, fin rays, and seals. Home to over 13,500 varieties of marine life and many freshwater species, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada has been a major attraction since 2013 when it was opened to the public. The moving plank takes visitors through the aquarium giving them a real underwater experience.
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