Imagine… You find yourself touring the world’s largest aquariums. As you pass through glass tunnels, whale sharks, manta rays, and colorful tropical fish surrounding you make you feel like you’re in an underwater paradise. Now, let’s embark on this fascinating journey together!
Chimelong Ocean Kingdom (Zhuhai, China)
A journey to the mysterious waters of the Far East… When you step into the city of Zhuhai in Guangdong Province, China, you are in Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, one of the largest aquariums in the world.
The moment you step inside the entrance gate, you are mesmerized. A giant complex welcomes you. When you enter, you are almost in another world. The world’s largest aquarium tank, known as “The Whale Shark Exhibit”, beckons you. 48.8 million liters of water capacity and more than 20,000 sea creatures are together here.
You approach in front of the giant glass. Whale sharks glide gracefully, manta rays orbiting around them, performing an underwater ballet. You look in every direction; sea turtles, sharks, colorful coral fish… You are in the middle of a visual feast.
The observation window is so big that even the people around you look like tiny silhouettes. Thanks to the world’s largest acrylic panel, you can clearly see every detail of the underwater world. The calmness of the water, the graceful movements of the fish and the magic of the light shows make you feel like you are in a dream. In 2023, 12.52 million visitors came to explore this place. And now you are living that magical experience.
Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta, USA)
You are in Atlanta to discover the magic of the Atlantic Ocean. When you step through the door, you are welcomed by the Georgia Aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in the world.
Walking among giant species such as whale sharks and beluga whales, you make a new discovery with every step. 38 million liters of water capacity, 500 species and more than 100,000 sea creatures are on display here. Watching the graceful movements of the fish as they pass through the huge glass tunnels is a mesmerizing experience.
The white bodies of beluga whales glow in the dark water. Their graceful swims and cheerful demeanor fascinate the viewers. This episode is especially interesting for children, and seeing the excitement reflected on their faces increases your happiness.
According to 2018 data, the number of annual visitors is 2.5 million. However, you feel as if you are the only one exploring this magical world, not one of those millions of people.
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
You step away from the hot desert weather of the Middle East and step into a cool world. You are inside the Dubai Mall. There are people shopping around you. But your attention is elsewhere: Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo.
When you stand in front of the world’s largest acrylic panel, you marvel at the size of the giant water tank. 10 million liters of water, more than 140 species and more than 33,000 sea creatures live here.
A group of sharks passes over your head. Sand tiger sharks, graceful stingrays and colorful fish dance behind the glass. In this giant aquarium, where underwater safari tours are organized, you don’t just watch, you also have the chance to get into the water and swim among the sharks.
In 2009, the first year it opened, more than 1.5 million visitors explored it. Today, this giant underwater world attracts thousands of people every day.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (Okinawa, Japan)
On one of Japan’s tropical islands, Okinawa, you fall under the spell of the sea. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium takes you to the heart of the ocean.
What impresses you the most here is the Kuroshio Sea tank. With a capacity of 7.5 million liters of water, this gigantic tank is the ideal place to watch the graceful movements of giant whale sharks. Especially when the manta rays glide with their wide wings, it turns into a mesmerizing visual feast.
With 720 different species on display, this aquarium is home to tropical fish and colorful coral reefs. This fascinating space attracts 3.5 million visitors every year.
Emaar Aquarium (Istanbul, Turkey)
An underwater world hidden inside Emaar Square Mall, in the heart of Istanbul. The cool air that greets you when you step through the door allows you to completely disconnect from the outside world.
Emaar Aquarium is one of the largest in Istanbul with a water capacity of 4.5 million liters. It houses more than 20,000 land and sea creatures. As you wander among the colorful fish, you can’t help but watch the majestic swimming of the sharks.
Thanks to the activities and educational programs organized especially for children, exploring this magical world becomes even more fun. Emaar Aquarium, which has become a popular destination for families, welcomes thousands of visitors throughout the year.
Bonus World's First Aquarium - The Fish House (London, 1853)
We go back in time… We are in London in 1853. In Victorian London, the impact of the industrial revolution is felt everywhere. While technology is developing rapidly, people’s curiosity about nature is increasing day by day. There is a new place in the city that everyone is talking about: The Fish House.
When you enter the aquarium, the crowd dressed in the elegant clothes of that period forms long queues in front of the aquarium. Visitors step inside with excitement and pause in amazement and admiration at the illuminated water tanks. In the world behind the glass, colorful fish, previously seen only in pictures, swim.
Built as part of the Zoological Society of London’s Zoo in Regent’s Park, it is the first public aquarium in the modern sense. The idea that fish could be exhibited in a closed system was considered a great innovation with the technology of the time. And it was this idea that led to the birth of The Fish House.
These include tropical species, freshwater fish and sea fish. Especially shrimps, lobsters and colorful coral fish attract great attention. Caribbean fish brought to England at that time and species from the Indian Ocean fascinate the eyes of visitors. Each in different colors, shapes and sizes.
Although the number of fish species on display at the aquarium at the time was limited, the idea of seeing different ecosystems is a new adventure for people. The Fish House allows scientists to study and research different species.
The opening of the aquarium was a big event. London newspapers are full of praise for this new building. The “House of Fish” is becoming a place everyone wants to see once it has made a name for itself.
By the end of the first year, the number of visitors exceeded 200,000. People from all corners of London flock here. The Fish House’s popularity soon led to the establishment of similar structures in other parts of the world.
A boy approaches the window holding his father’s hand. His eyes are mesmerized as he watches the fish. His father leans over and whispers in his ear, “Look, my son, these are creatures from another world.”
There is a mixture of amazement and fascination among visitors. People watching the fish swimming behind the glass had never before thought that underwater life could be so fascinating. Especially colorful coral fish and sea creatures with interesting shapes are among the species that attract the attention of visitors.
The Fish House not only attracts visitors but also opens new doors for the world of science. The Zoological Society of London sees the building as both a public exhibition space and a center for scientific research.
The ability of fish to survive in a healthy way with the technology of the time is considered a great achievement. Especially the preservation of tropical fish at the right water temperature and pH level was a milestone for scientists.
Why was it so important?
- The idea of displaying fish in a closed system was completely new.
- The term aquarium was first used here. Previously, such structures were called “aqua vivarium” or “fish house”.
- The Fish House offered scientists the opportunity to study different species.
- Annual visitor numbers exceeded 200,000, a huge achievement for London at the time.
When We Look Today
Those fish, which were watched with amazement and admiration in the London of that era, formed the basis of modern aquariums. The huge aquariums we visit today continue to offer visitors the fascinating beauties of the underwater world. But all these magnificent structures owe a debt to the first step taken by The Fish House.
