Like Fish

New England Aquarium

October 24, 2008 – 1:27 pm

The New England Aquarium, located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, is one of the most prominent and popular public aquariums in the United States. Founded in 1969 on the city’s waterfront, it is considered one of the first modern public aquariums and is credited with revolutionizing the modern aquarium experience for visitors through its emphasis on a more naturalistic setting for aquatic life. With a mission “to present, promote and protect the world of water,” it remains one of the only such institutions with commitments to research and conservation as well as education and entertainment. In addition to the main aquarium building, attractions at the New England Aquarium include the Simons IMAX Theatre and the New England Aquarium Whale Watch, which operates from April through October. More than 1.5 million people visit the aquarium and theatre each year.

Exhibits
Located in the central open atrium of the main building, the principal feature of the Aquarium is the Giant Ocean Tank, a cylindrical 200,000 gallon (750,000 liter) tank simulating a Caribbean coral reef. This tank houses sharks, turtles, and many smaller reef-living fish. Open at the top, the concrete tank is surrounded by a walkway that spirals down from the top level allowing visitors access to 52 different windows which offer views of the reef from every angle and level.

At the bottom, the tank stands in a large, square 150,000 gallon penguin exhibit, hosting African penguins, rockhopper penguins and little blue penguins. The penguin exhibit can be seen from the spiral walkway of the central tank or from elevated viewing areas that completely surround the perimeter of the exhibit. The penguins live on several artificial rock islands within the exhibit.

Surrounding the atrium are three different levels of smaller exhibits including:

* The “Thinking” Gallery, also known as the Temperate Gallery, featuring goliath grouper, ancient fishes, rare sea dragons, coastal environments and thousands of schooling fish
* The Freshwater Gallery focusing on freshwater habitats in South America compared to New England river systems. This gallery features piranhas, anacondas, electric eels, Atlantic salmon
* The “Edge of the Sea” tidepool. Visitors are allowed to touch New England tidepool animals including sea stars, sea urchins, snails, hermit crabs and horseshoe crabs
* The Northern Waters of the World Gallery focuses on New England marine habitats compared to Pacific Northwest habitats. The gallery features shorebirds, colored lobsters, goosefish, giant Pacific octopus and countless other invertebrates
* The Tropical Gallery features many colorful tropical fish, cuttlefish, venomous fish including lionfish and scorpionfish, and living corals.
* The Aquarium Medical Center gives visitors a behind the scenes view of what it takes to care for thousands of animals including fish, reptiles, mammals and birds.

In front of the Aquarium is a harbor seal exhibit, and it can be seen for free without going into the building. Other marine mammals, such as three northern fur seals are on exhibit behind the Aquarium on the harborside terrace. The New England Aquarium’s marine mammals participate in daily training sessions that are open for public viewing.

The new West Wing was completed in 1998 by Schwartz/Silver Architects. The glass and steel addition includes a harbor seal exhibit on the public plaza, ticketing booth, changing exhibit galleries, gift shop, cafe, and lobby. Another recent expansion is a separate building housing a 3-D IMAX theater by E.Verner Johnson and Associates.

The aquarium staff often participates in rescue efforts for stranded marine mammals and sea turtles.

Special exhibits
Killer Instincts

“They’re the animals that scare you: sand tiger shark, anaconda, giant Pacific octopus, electric eel and more. But how dangerous are they really? Which ones are deadly to humans, and which ones are humans driving to extinction? Find out all about the ocean’s deadliest creatures with the New England Aquarium’s newest theme program, Killer Instincts. The program includes an interactive passport program along with live animal presentations and our larger-than-life high definition shark video to help you face your fears and understand the truth about these creatures.”

“Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure rounds out the program through a startlingly realistic 3D movie that tells the story of the most terrifying animals ever to roam the sea: the ferocious underwater dinosaurs of the Cretaceous period.”

Both Killer Instincts and Sea Monsters 3D launch on October 5, 2007. More information about all the animals featured in the theme program are available through the New England Aquarium’s website.

Another special exhibit that the New England Aquarium is setting up is a ray and shark touch tank. Opening on July 1, this touch tank will be home to southern rays, cownose rays, yellow rays, and coral catsharks, among others.

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