NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM

The 'New England Aquarium', located in Boston, Massachusetts 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.

Contents

Exhibits

Special exhibits

Location of the aquarium

Image Gallery

See also

External links

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 featuring goliath grouper, 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.
A recent expansion to the aquarium is an additional building housing a 3-D IMAX theater, gift shop, and a cafeteria.
The aquarium staff often participates in rescue efforts for stranded marine mammals and sea turtles.

Special exhibits

Currently, the aquarium is running the ''Walk Like a Penguin'' theme program, which includes interactive components such as an underwater penguin periscope, a touchscreen computer with information on the individual penguins on exhibit and a penguin vocalization station where visitors can hear the sounds that different penguin species make. In addition, panels located around the aquarium include information on how penguins communicate, dress, swim, eat and more. A "penguin Podcast" is also available through the New England Aquarium Podcast feed on iTunes, or on the institution's homepage. ''Walk Like a Penguin'' launched on November 17, 2006 and will run at least through the summer of 2007.

Location of the aquarium

The New England Aquarium is located on Central Wharf along Atlantic Avenue in Boston and adjacent to Long Wharf. The nearest subway stop is Aquarium Station on the MBTA's Blue Line, but the aquarium is only a short walk from the Haymarket Station on the Orange and the Green Lines. The Aquarium is located within walking distance of the North End, Government Center, and the Financial District.

Image Gallery

See also

★ Marine Mammal Center

★ Cambridge Seven Associates

External links

★ New England Aquarium homepage

★ New England Aquarium webcams and podcast homepage

★ History of the New England Aquarium

★ Penguin exhibit video