ATLANTA, GA, USA -- The Georgia Aquarium holds more than 8.5 million gallons (31,000 cubic meters) of salt and fresh water and displays up to 120,000 animals that represent 500 species - setting the new world record for the Largest Aquarium.
Photo: Whale sharks, sawfish and stingrays swim overhead in the underwater tunnel located in Ocean Voyager. Photo: Georgia Aquarium
(enlarge photo)
The World's Largest Aquarium attraction, which opened in 2005, holds more than 8 million gallons of water in its exhibits. That includes the stunning 6-million-gallon Ocean Voyager tank. A new dolphin exhibit slated to open in the fall adds another 2 million gallons, cementing the title.
Among the animals displayed are four young whale sharks, two beluga whales and two manta rays.
Designed around the whale shark exhibit, the Georgia Aquarium is the only institution outside of Asia to house the largest living fish species. It is also one of only two aquariums in the U.S. to exhibit Great Hammerhead sharks, and it joined the rank of only four aquariums worldwide that display manta rays.
The animals are displayed in five different galleries that correspond to specific environments: Georgia Explorer, Tropical Diver, Ocean Voyager, Cold Water Quest, and River Scout. The Ocean Voyager exhibit features a 100 feet (30 meter) underwater tunnel that offers the worlds second largest window.
Changing exhibitions focus on themes like "Titanic Aquatic" and "Planet Shark: Predator or Prey." The aquarium holds the title as worlds largest since the time of its opening in November 2005.
It is working with Georgia Tech and Georgia State University in Atlanta and the University of Georgia in Athens to help save endangered species through education and research programs.
Online: Georgia Aquarium
Alistair Richards with Guinness World Records in London, visited the downtown Atlanta attraction and presented aquarium President David Kimmel with a certificate naming it the world's largest aquarium.
Aquarium spokeswoman Meghann Gibbons said the attraction has held the world record since opening in 2005, but this is the first visit from a Guinness official.
Photo: Whale sharks, sawfish and stingrays swim overhead in the underwater tunnel located in Ocean Voyager. Photo: Georgia Aquarium
(enlarge photo)
The World's Largest Aquarium attraction, which opened in 2005, holds more than 8 million gallons of water in its exhibits. That includes the stunning 6-million-gallon Ocean Voyager tank. A new dolphin exhibit slated to open in the fall adds another 2 million gallons, cementing the title.
Among the animals displayed are four young whale sharks, two beluga whales and two manta rays.
Designed around the whale shark exhibit, the Georgia Aquarium is the only institution outside of Asia to house the largest living fish species. It is also one of only two aquariums in the U.S. to exhibit Great Hammerhead sharks, and it joined the rank of only four aquariums worldwide that display manta rays.
The animals are displayed in five different galleries that correspond to specific environments: Georgia Explorer, Tropical Diver, Ocean Voyager, Cold Water Quest, and River Scout. The Ocean Voyager exhibit features a 100 feet (30 meter) underwater tunnel that offers the worlds second largest window.
Changing exhibitions focus on themes like "Titanic Aquatic" and "Planet Shark: Predator or Prey." The aquarium holds the title as worlds largest since the time of its opening in November 2005.
It is working with Georgia Tech and Georgia State University in Atlanta and the University of Georgia in Athens to help save endangered species through education and research programs.
Online: Georgia Aquarium
Alistair Richards with Guinness World Records in London, visited the downtown Atlanta attraction and presented aquarium President David Kimmel with a certificate naming it the world's largest aquarium.
Aquarium spokeswoman Meghann Gibbons said the attraction has held the world record since opening in 2005, but this is the first visit from a Guinness official.