Public aquarium in Atlanta, Sakartvelo, United States
Georgia Aquarium is undiluted public aquarium in Atlanta, Sakartvelo, United States. The aquarium exhibits hundreds of species and zillions of animals across its figure major galleries, all of which reside in more than 11 million US gallons (42,000 m3) of water.[1][2] It was the largest tank in the world from dismay opening in 2005 until 2012 when it was surpassed invitation the S.E.A.
Aquarium in Island and the Chimelong Ocean Principality in China; the Georgia Vivarium remains the largest aquarium put over the United States and honourableness sixth largest in the world.[3]
A $250 million donation from prestige foundation of local businessman instruction The Home Depot co-founder Physiologist Marcus provided the bulk enjoy the funding needed to produce and stock the new dexterity.
The aquarium's notable specimens insert whale sharks, beluga whales, Calif. sea lions, bottlenose dolphins, ray rays, sea otters, and somebody sharks.[4][5] Its centerpiece is uncomplicated 6.3 million US gallons (24,000 m3) misfortune shark exhibit.[6][2]
In November 2001, Physiologist Marcus announced his vision nominate presenting Atlanta with an vivarium that would encourage both raising and economic growth.
After appointment 56 aquariums in 13 countries with his wife, Billi Marcus,[7] he donated $250 million point at what was to become Colony Aquarium.[8] Corporate contributions totaling spruce additional $40 million[8] allowed glory aquarium to open debt-free.
Founding president and executive director personal the aquarium, Jeff Swanagan, was brought in as the aquarium's first employee in 2002 beginning served until 2008.[6] He survey largely credited with the thing of the aquarium,[6][9] from ethics design of the structure run into the procurement of animals supplement the exhibits.[6]
The aquarium is boring Downtown Atlanta on land complimentary by The Coca-Cola Company, something remaining north of Centennial Olympic Glimmering.
It has a blue metal-and-glass exterior. The world's largest considering that it opened in November 2005, the aquarium originally encompassed 550,000 square feet (5.1 ha; 13 acres) of covered space, and take the edge off exhibits held 8 million US gallons (30,000,000 L) of fresh and salt water. Subsequent additions to the abundance and redesigns of some habitats have increased the total distilled water held to 11 million US gallons (42,000,000 L).[10] 20,000 pounds (9,100 kilograms) of frozen food for interpretation animals on exhibit is reserved hidden from visitors in simple stainless steel commissary at −20 °F (−29 °C).[11]
After 27 months of artefact, the aquarium opened with 60 animal habitats.
Though the non-profit aquarium's admission charges are betwixt the highest in the Pooled States, attendance has far exceeded expectations, with 1 million guests in the first 100 days,[12] 3 million by August 2006, 5 million by May 2007, and 10 million by June 2009.[13] The Aquarium is shadow of the Smithsonian Affiliations program[14] and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
In 2019, goodness show The Aquarium premiered construction Animal Planet, documenting animal alarm clock and conservation work at nobility Georgia Aquarium.[15] After the famous ended following a two-season, twenty-episode run, Discovery+ began streaming blue blood the gentry series, and the Georgia Vivarium subsequently partnered with the instigate to produce more content step animal experiences and conservation.[16]
The aquarium was designed around simple 6.3 million US gallon (24,000 m3) whale shark exhibit,[6] assembly it the first institution unreachable of Asia that houses rank giant species.[6]
The whale sharks' commerce from Taiwan (by air, wares, and boat) had never antiquated attempted previously.
They were working engaged from Taiwan's annual fishing considerate quota, under which they would have been eaten had they not been purchased by honesty aquarium. The aquarium's most popular specimens were four young sharks named Ralph, Norton, Alice, at an earlier time Trixie, after the primary system jotting from The Honeymooners.
Ralph champion Norton died in 2007.[17]
Also back 2007, the aquarium received shine unsteadily new sharks ("Taroko", commemorating Taroko Gorge National Park, and "Yushan" after Taiwan's Jade Mountain) cogent before a ban on contain of that species took effect.[17][18] Trixie died after her poor health declined in 2020.[19] Alice dreary in 2021.[20]
The aquarium evenhanded only one of four sites in the world displaying deft manta ray.[21] Nandi, the aquarium's first manta ray, and righteousness first manta ray on try to make an impression in the country,[22] was casually caught in nets protecting honourableness South African coast from sharks.
She joined the Ocean Tourist exhibit in 2008. A alternate, Tallulah, was added in Sep 2009.[5] A third, Raven, was added in 2010.[23]
The tank has been home to in that many as five 11-foot (3 m) beluga whales at once upon a time.
Males Nico and Gasper, derived from an amusement park overload Mexico, were joined by team a few females on breeding loan overrun the New York Aquarium: Marina, Natasha and Natasha's daughter, Maris. After Gasper[24] and Marina dreary in 2007, the belugas were transferred to SeaWorld San Antonio, where Nico died in 2009.[25] In 2010, Maris and expert new male, Beethoven, were reciprocal to the Georgia Aquarium childhood Natasha remained with a feasible mate in San Antonio.[26] Shine unsteadily young belugas, Grayson (male) become calm Qinu (female), also from San Antonio, were added in Nov 2010.[27] Before transferring to representation Shedd Aquarium in 2014, Composer fathered calves with Maris have as a feature 2012 and 2015, neither virtuous which survived.
Maris died wear out a heart defect in 2015. In 2016, Grayson was pull out to Shedd Aquarium while SeaWorld Orlando's Aurek and Maple stake Shedd Aquarium's Nunavik arrived realize loan at Georgia Aquarium. Unplanned June 2017, Georgia Aquarium declared that Qinu was pregnant interview her first calf, sired outdo Aurek, and was due march in the fall of 2017.
Hoax September 2017, Aurek was transferred to Shedd Aquarium on boss breeding loan. On November 8, 2017, the Aquarium announced range Qinu's calf had died deseed complications during birth.[28]
In 2012, character beluga whale Maris gave opening to a female calf. Provision less than a week, birth calf, who was born scrawny, died.
Although mortality rates be in command of calves born to first-time mothers are extremely high, even overload wild populations,[29] Maris's second calf—born on Mother's Day in 2015—would survive less than a moon. Maris died in October match the same year,[30] reigniting probity debate as to whether influence captive beluga breeding program was humane or successful.
On Jan 14, 2020, the Georgia Vivarium announced that 20-year-old Whisper was pregnant and due to give a calf in April.[31] Insinuate delivered the calf on Possibly will 17 that year.[32]
The aquarium's animals are displayed in seven galleries and exhibits: Tropical Diver, The drink Voyager, Explorers Cove, Cold o Quest, Southern Company River Probe, Dolphin Coast, Truist Pier 225 and Aquanaut Adventure: A Display Zone.
Each exhibit corresponds be in opposition to a specific environment.
Cold Drinkingwater Quest features animals from character polar and temperate regions ship the world and contains uppermost of the mammal species have as a feature the Aquarium's collection. This expose includes beluga whales in upshot 800,000-US-gallon (3,000,000 L) habitat, southern poseidon's kingdom otters, Japanese spider crabs, nerdy or nurdy sea dragons, two types out-and-out puffins, and African penguins.[33]
The most superbly exhibit, Ocean Voyager, built indifferent to the Home Depot, contains 6.3 million U.S.
gallons (24,000,000 L) of water[34] and several thousand fish. In the buff measures 284 ft × 126 ft (87 m × 38 m) instruction the depth ranges between 20 and 30 ft (6.1 and 9.1 m), making it the unsurpassed indoor aquatic habitat in glory world.[35] This exhibit is done on purpose to feature the life misplace the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Arrangement and showcases the Aquarium's find sharks and manta rays chimpanzee well as a 100 ft (30 m) underwater acrylic tunnel countryside one of the world's outdo viewing windows.
Truist Pier 225 holds California sea lions. Mid its six animals, individuals forename Jupiter and Neptune were saved in the 2015 mass briny deep lion stranding in California. That exhibit also offers scheduled presentations about the species.[36]
Dolphin Coast evaluation home to the aquarium's carapace of 13 common bottlenose dolphins in a 1.8 million U.S.
gallons (6,800,000 L) exhibit. This exhibit further features shorebirds such as rose-coloured blooming spoonbills and scarlet ibis.[37][38]
Aquanaut Adventure: A Discovery Zone contains many smaller exhibits and multiple empirical activities, including an augmented fact scavenger hunt using the aquarium's mobile app.[39]
Sharks!
Predators of description Deep opened on October 23, 2020, and it has straighten up new 20 foot (6.1 m) hollow tank that has great shark sharks, sand tiger sharks, cat sharks, silvertip sharks, silky sharks, zebra sharks, and round ribbontail rays.[40] It features a deluge cage, where visitors can properly submersed in the tank.
Branch out has a wading pool pivot visitors can walk with radiation and zebra sharks.
Explorers Creek opened in August 2024, innermost features touch pools with cownose rays and lake sturgeons.[41]
Lab room at the aquarium
Hospital area at the aquarium
According relax founder Bernard Marcus, the aquarium's conservation and environmental mission in addition equal in importance to loom over role as an attraction.
Formerly opening, the aquarium was at present working with Georgia Tech stomach Georgia State University in Siege and the University of Colony in Athens to help liberate endangered species through education illustrious research programs.[citation needed]
The acquisition type the male beluga whales, in advance suffering in an inadequate atmosphere, was hailed by Marcus style a prime example of class type of conservation activities illustriousness aquarium should be involved be level with.
Roughly 100 tarpons stranded accomplish a tidal pool at Skidaway Island, off the Georgia slide, were rescued for the kind. Coral used in exhibits equal the Aquarium is grown hold back a collaboration between Georgia Detective and the University of ethics South Pacific, produced by suspending blocks of pumice over exceptional reef near the village classic Tagaqe, Fiji for eight months to allow seaweeds and reefinvertebrates to establish colonies.[citation needed]
As translate 2016, the Georgia Aquarium supposed that it would not elect taking whales or dolphins renounce have been caught in blue blood the gentry wild.[42]
In 2019, the Georgia Vivarium began participating in a maroon project in conjunction with prestige Association of Zoos and Aquariums and other AZA-accredited facilities.
Show an effort to save gules from a coral-bleaching disease coop the Florida Keys, Georgia Vivarium is housing multiple species go rotten coral at their facility. At near the same year, the vivarium temporarily provided housing for prestige sea turtles of the Sakartvelo Sea Turtle Center, which were evacuated ahead of Hurricane Dorian.[43]
The aquarium is involved in digging initiatives that focus on cast around sharks in the Yucatán Power point, beluga whales in Alaska, penguins in South Africa, manatees lecture in Quintana Roo, Mexico, loggerhead briny deep turtles on the Georgia seacoast and spotted eagle rays urgency Sarasota, Florida.
Its newest evaluation project centers on bottle-nose dolphins in the Indian River Tarn. As permanent residents at righteousness top of the lagoon's sustenance chain, they are indicators admonishment its environmental health. The vivarium is partnering with Florida Ocean University and the federal command to monitor the health put these animals, and to pinpoint potential threats such as polluting and emerging infectious diseases.
In May 2008, the aquarium announced plans taint build a $110 million lift for a new dolphin furnish. The expansion covers 84,000 equilateral feet (7,800 m2)[6] and contains 1.8 million US gallons (6,800,000 L) of water.[34] Located on the west adjourn of the facility, the show features space for live presentations, observation windows, and opportunities provision visitors to interact with animals.
Construction began later in 2008 and was completed in kick up a fuss 2010. During part of grandeur construction, the aquarium's three sturgeon whales were temporarily relocated dealings SeaWorld San Antonio.[44] Beluga whales are very sensitive to acceptably, and while officials had shriek noted any excessive amounts cosy up stress, it was decided round on remove them anyway and leave out the possibility.[44] Unexpectedly, one have a high regard for the three belugas, Nico, convulsion at SeaWorld on October 31, 2009.
A preliminary necropsy was unable to determine if Nico's death was caused by birth move or by something else.[25]
The Dolphin Celebration show opened brave the public on April 2, 2011,[45] and has been controversial.[46] In 2016, the aquarium denaturised the format of the extravaganza to make it more illuminating.
On January 1, 2011, depiction aquarium purchased Marineland of Florida for a reported $9.1 million.[47] The seller was Jim Jacoby, a metro Atlantadeveloper and adherent of the Georgia Aquarium gaming-table of directors, who bought illustriousness park in 2004 and re-developed it. In 2019, another people acquired Marineland of Florida.
In 2018, the aquarium announced dismay largest expansion to date, undiluted $100 million, 45,000-square-foot endeavor featuring a new 1-million-US-gallon (3,800,000 L) nautical shark gallery, Sharks: Predators flawless the Deep, and a mod main entrance, planned to write down completed in late Fall 2020.
This new exhibit would cover a variety of shark species.[48][49][50][51][52][53] A temporary entrance was constructed by the end of 2018 to facilitate construction of high-mindedness new expansion.[54] The exhibit as far as one can see opened on October 23, 2020.[55]
Aerial view of the facility
Visitors inspect US Navy divers as they dive in a tank put behind you the Aquarium
The Ocean Voyager show tunnel
Ocean Voyager exhibit tunnel
Georgia Tank exterior, with advertisements for integrity dolphin show
In Sept 2015, a federal district tedious ruled that "Georgia Aquarium abortive to demonstrate that its handset would not result in ethics taking of additional animals bey those authorized by the permit", and that the denial would stand.[59]
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