Photo by tab2_dawa. Aquariums have always been one of the main destinations for visitors. The reason is simple. Who is not fascinated by the huge blue water tanks and the various marine species to be admired
The experience of visiting an aquarium is unforgettable: in these places it is possible to enrich one’s knowledge without giving up the charm of the spectacular! In fact, aquariums like the ones we are about to show you are not seen every day. The size of the tanks and the number of liters let us imagine the beauty of these aquariums. But be careful, the water volume measurement system changes depending on the country, so we have calculated our top 15 based on liters(and not the gallons) contained by each aquarium. For a breathtaking visit, here is our ranking of the 15 largest aquariums in the world!
15 – Acquadom, 1 million liters
Photo by Susanne Nilsson.
- Location: Atrium of the Radisson Hotel, Berlin, Germany
- Number of animals: 5,000 specimens
- Number of animal species: 2,600
It is one of the tallest existing aquariums , in fact it extends in the shape of a cylinder. Inside, a state-of-the-art lift will make you ‘navigate’ inside the tub. A very special and suggestive tour!
14 – ‘Le Navi’ aquarium, 2.5 million liters
Photo by Martin Lewison.
- Where is it: Cattolica, Emilia Romagna, Italy
- Number of animals: more than 3,000 specimens
- Number of animal species: 400
This Italian pride includes 4 thematic itineraries: blue, green, yellow and purple. It is also possible to participate in the meals of penguins, otters and prefine sharks!
13 – Acquarium of Western Australia, more than 3 million liters
Photo by RaNdOm26.
- Location: Perth, Western Australia
- Number of animals: more than 4,000 specimens
- Number of animal species: 400
If you are in the area, a visit to Australia’s largest aquarium is a must! Inside, you can walk through a 98-meter tunnel , which, being made of transparent material, allows you to live the experience of really feeling immersed in sharks, jellyfish, sea turtles and many other species! For the more courageous, it is possible, for a supplement, to make close dives.
12 – Ushaka Marine World, 4 million liters
Photo by South African Tourism.
- Location: Durban, South Africa
- Number of animals: 10,000 specimens
- Number of animal species: 300
It is a real water park which, in addition to the fun associated with swimming pools and dizzying slides, hosts the largest aquarium on the African continent. The shape of the building resumes that of an ancient wreck and makes the experience even more suggestive. Among the many activities, you can snorkel in a lagoon with 1500 fish . For shark enthusiasts, this aquarium contains the largest variety of species in the world!
11 – Ocean Aquarium, almost 5 million liters
Photo by tab2_dawa.
- Location: Shanghai, Pudong District, China
- Number of animals: 33,000 specimens
- Number of animal species: 450
The aquarium has a pumping system that circulates ocean water, taken from Monterey Bay, inside the tanks. The research activity goes hand in hand with that of the aquarium, which, in fact, is located within a protected marine area . An area thus under protection, where, until 1984, there was a sardine canning plant.
10 – Monteray Bay Aquarium, 5.7 million liters
- Location: Monteray, California
- Number of animals: 35,000 specimens
- Number of animal species: 623
This aquarium has 9 thematic zones. The main attraction is the transparent tunnel of 155 meters , which you can walk through to observe the specimens up close. An opportunity, too, to get to know many endangered species , whose care is one of the most important missions of the structure.
9 – Aquarium of Genoa, 6 million liters
Photo by N icol a.
- Where it is located: Genoa, Italy
- Number of animals: 15,000 specimens
- Number of animal species: 400
The third largest aquarium in Europe is located right in Italy! With its 70 tanks, the structure reproduces marine environments of exceptional importance, such as those of the Red Sea, the Mediterranean and the Pacific Ocean. The project bears the authoritative signature of Renzo Piano , who, in 1992, presented his idea of ​​a ‘marine house’ at the Expo.
8 – TurkuaZoo Aquarium, 6.8 million liters
Photo by Veselina Dzhingarova.
- Where is it: Istanbul, Turkey
- Number of animals: 10,000 specimens
- Number of animal species: 1,000
An 80 meter long conveyor belt will take you through the longest underwater tunnel in Europe . The special angle of 270 degrees guarantees a dream panoramic view, immersed among the most fascinating creatures of the sea. This wonderful public aquarium is located inside one of the largest shopping centers in Europe, the Forum Istanbul Shopping Mall. It is home to some of the largest tiger sharks in the world, along with many other smaller and more fascinating species.
7 – The Blue Planet, 7 million liters
Photo by News Oresund.
- Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
- Number of animals: 20,000 specimens
- Number of animal species: 450
For those located further north, we recommend visiting the Danish public aquarium. One of the oldest aquariums in Europe , already present in 1939, in a suburban area of ​​the capital. In 2012 the specimens were moved to the new headquarters in Kastrup, a suburb of Copenhagen. The facility is divided into 5 thematic areas: rainforest, African lakes, evolution and adaptation, cold water and warm ocean.
6 – National Aquarium, 8 million liters
Photo by avasquez.
- Location: Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Number of animals: + 17,000
- Number of animal species: + 750
A spectacular display of marine species that are very important for our ecosystem. A cutting-edge project also allows you to visit a rainforest ground , located on the roof of the building. For all-round nature lovers then!
5 – Dubai Mall Aquarium, 10 million liters
Photo by Steve Douglas.
- Where is it located: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Number of animals: 33,000 specimens
- Number of animal species: over 140
This aquarium is not only among the largest in existence, but is located inside the largest shopping mall on the planet! It holds the guinness world record for possessing the largest acrylic glass panel in the world : a size of 33 x 8.3 meters guarantees a spectacular immersive view!
4 – Georgia Acquarium, nearly 38 million liters
Photo by Owen Byrne.
- Where it is: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Number of animals: + 100,000 specimens
- Number of animal species: 500
We are close to the podium. And here we could not miss this extraordinary aquarium which, being very large, houses more than one hundred thousand specimens ! This is the only facility outside Asia where you can see whale shark specimens , only taken when a study found that they would be victims of Taiwan’s irregular fishing. The aquarium is located in the center of Atlanta and precisely on a land granted, even, by the Coca-Cola Company. It houses the largest tank in the world , with 24 million liters!
3 – Oceanografic, 42 million liters
Photo by Diliff.
- Location: Valencia, Spain
- Number of animals: 45,000 specimens
- Number of animal species: 500
And this is the largest aquarium in Europe ! We are approaching the top: the numbers are rising and are truly record-breaking. 26 million liters occupy the extraordinary 11 meter deep dolphinarium . The ‘Ocean’ section is made up of two pools joined by a 70-meter transparent tunnel. It is located inside the City of Arts and Sciences and has an innovative system of communicating tanks, in which many marine habitats are reproduced. A record for the number of specimens . There is also a restaurant that will give you the feeling of having lunch at the bottom of the ocean .
SEE ALSO : 10 things to see absolutely in Valencia
2 – SEA Aquarium, 45 million liters
Photo by Aapo Haapanen.
- Location: Sentosa, Republic of Singapore
- Number of animals: 100,000 specimens
- Number of animal species: 800
We rise significantly by moving to an island in the city-state of Singapore. Here the liters contained are mind-boggling: 45 million liters of salt water are home to 100,000 creatures. In short, those who intend to dedicate their next trip to the marine world will know where to land. Training programs on the subject are also offered to users and there is also the possibility of interacting with some species . It houses the world’s largest collection of manta rays, including a one-of-a-kind Manta Birostris. The gigantic dimensions of this structure allow to house rare species , impossible to see elsewhere!
1 – Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, almost 49 million liters
Photo by Martin Lewison.
- Location: Hengqin, Zhuhai, People’s Republic of China
- Number of animals: + 15,000 rare fish and thousands of other species
- Number of animal species: indicatively more than 500
With the inauguration in March 2014, the Chinese giant snatches the title of the largest aquarium in the world from Singapore ! Here the concept of the aquarium has gone further: we are not limited to observing from transparent panels, but the activities vary. The park offers seven different themed water areas , and each symbolizes a different part of the sea. A rare polar ‘water coaster’ amazes you, together with record-breaking transparent panels! It boasts the largest 5D theater in the world. In 2015 alone, 7.5 million visitors were registered. Not bad for a project costing nearly $ 5 billion!
