Aquariums and oceanariums are steadily increasing in popularity as citizens across the world become more intune to marine life conservation efforts and look to visit aquariums to expand their knowledge and get an up-close look at some of the world’s most interesting fish and marine animals.
Globally, aquariums are generating hundreds of millions of dollars, a large majority of which is used to fund research projects, care for aquatic animals, and increase public education of the world’s oceans and their inhabitants.
From Africa and North America to Western Europe and Russia, people are visiting aquariums in mass numbers, more often than not opting to check out some of the world’s largest and most famous oceanariums.
Globally, there are several major facilities driving the world’s increasingly popular aquarium industry. To break it down, we’ve assembled a list of the ten largest aquariums in the world.
10 Largest Aquariums in the World
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Chimelong Ocean Kingdom. Hengqin, China
Total Water Volume: 12.9 million gallons
Largest Tank: 5.99 million gallons
Annual Visitors: 11.7 millionThe world’s largest aquarium is nestled inside China’s Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort, home of one of the world’s largest, most popular amusement parks. The oceanarium holds several world records and houses four whale sharks, several manta rays, seas turtles, numerous shark species, and a variety of tropical corals.
The Chimelong Ocean Kingdom aquarium is best known for its whale shark exhibit, which features the world’s largest acrylic panel, measuring more than 129 feet in length, the world’s largest aquarium window, and the largest underwater viewing dome.
Visitors travel from across the globe to walk through the dome and get an up-close look at some of the largest sharks on the planet, measuring up to 33 feet long.
Many of the theme park’s rides and attractions run through the aquarium’s many fresh and saltwater tanks. The aquarium amusement park is composed of several themed areas.
Each themed area represents a different part of Earth’s ocean and includes Ocean Avenue, Dolphin Cove, Amazing Amazon, Ocean Beauty. Polar Horizon, Hero Island, Mount Walrus, and Hengqin Ocean.
In recent years, Chimelong Ocean Kingdom has come under fire for operating the first killer whale breeding center in China, with global opposition from many international conservation groups and organizations. Currently, the center houses five males and four females, which were captured and relocated from Russia’s Sea of Okhotsk.
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South East Asia Aquarium. Sentosa Island, Singapore
Total Water Volume: 12 million gallons
Largest Tank: 4.8 million gallons
Annual Visitors: 19.7 millionComing in second on the list of the world’s largest aquariums is the South East Asia Aquarium, or S.E.A. Aquarium.
This famed Singapore oceanarium is home to the world’s largest collection of manta rays, including the giant oceanic manta ray, which grows up to 23 feet across and can weigh more than 6,000 pounds. It is famously known as the largest ray in the world.
The South East Asia Aquarium is part of Resorts World Sentosa’s Marine Life Park and cares for more than 800 sea species and over 100,000 animals. The aquarium is centered around an open ocean tank, the facility’s largest tank, which contains more than 50,000 creatures and features ten zones with 49 different habitats.
In addition to educating the public and caring for some of the world’s most beloved sea animals, the South East Asia Aquarium also runs a conservation group, dubbed Guardians of the S.E.A.A., in an effort to support research and protect marine life.
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Maui Ocean Center. Valencia, Spain
Total Water Volume: 11 million gallons
Largest Tank: 1.8 million gallons
Annual Visitors: 1.5 millionThe Oceanographic Oceanarium, also known as L’Oceanogràfic, opened to the public on February 14, 2003. In its 18 year history, the facility has grown enormously and now ranks as the world’s third-largest aquarium.
The aquarium is perhaps best known for its 35-meter underwater tunnel, which allows visitors to take a journey from the temperate underwater climate of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans to the warmer waters of the Indian and Caribbean Oceans. Guests often search for sand sharks, cow sharks, and rays while walking through the tunneled tank.
The Oceanographic Oceanarium, the largest aquarium in Europe, was designed by renowned Spanish architect Félix Candela. It features nine underwater towers, which are home to more than 500 species, including dolphins, belugas, walruses, sea lions, seals, penguins, turtles, rays, sawfish, jellyfish, and the rare oceanic sunfish.
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Georgia Aquarium. Atlanta, United States
Total Water Volume: 10 million gallons
Largest Tank: 6.3 million gallons
Annual Visitors: 2.5 millionIn terms of tank size alone, The Georgia Aquarium is the largest international oceanarium, housing the single largest aquarium exhibit in the world. Although the aquarium famously operates a tank containing more than 6 million gallons of water, it comes fourth on the list by measurement of total water volume.
Founded by Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus in 2015, The Georgia Aquarium is home to more than 100,000 sea animals, including several whale sharks. The aquarium is the only establishment outside of Asia to house whale sharks, a decision which was initially met with controversy after two whale sharks died under their watch in 2007.
Visitors flock to the aquarium to see the institution’s beluga whales, California sea lions, bottlenose dolphins, and manta rays, in addition to the famed whale sharks. The aquarium comprises several major galleries, including the Tropical Diver, Ocean Voyager, Cold Water Quest, River Scout, and Dolphin Tales.
The non-profit organization reportedly generated a staggering $96.94 million in total annual revenue in 2018. Much of this was fueled by charitable contributions and program service charges. Currently, a general admission ticket to visit The Georgia Aquarium is priced at $35.95.
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Moscow Oceanarium. Moscow, Russia
Total Water Volume: 6.6 million gallons
Largest Tank: 1 million gallons
Annual Visitors: undisclosedThe Moscow Oceanarium, also known as the Moskvarium, is composed of 80 fish tanks and houses more than 12,000 marine and freshwater animals.
This oceanarium is one of the newest facilities ranking on the list of the world’s largest aquariums, just opening on August 5, 2015. While the facility does not disclose the number of people who visit the facility each year, it is said to be one of the most popular aquariums in Russia.
The Moscow Oceanarium is best known for exhibits featuring killer whales, dolphins, belugas, walruses, South American sea lions, octopuses, starfish, stingrays, and seahorses. The oceanarium is especially unique in that it operates a large store for visitors to purchase fish and sea creatures for their own home aquariums.
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The Seas With Nemo and Friends. Orlando, United States
Total Water Volume: 5.7 million gallons
Largest Tank: 5.7 million gallons
Annual Visitors: 12.4 millionThe world’s sixth-largest aquarium by volume is perhaps the most unique of all. The Seas With Nemo And Friends is a single 5.7 million gallon tank aquarium at Walt Disney World Resort’s Epcot amusement park.
The aquarium is built around a family-friendly ride based on Disney and Pixar’s Finding Nemo. The ride transports visitors through the tank, which ranks at the world’s second-largest saltwater tank as they embark on a journey to find Nemo.
Once the ride comes to an end, guests are brought to The Seas With Nemo And Friends Pavilion, where they are able to get an up-close look at the aquarium’s sharks and clownfish and learn more about marine biology.
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Shedd Aquarium (AHEDD). Chicago, United States
Total Water Volume: 5 million gallons
Largest Tank: 2 million gallons
Annual Visitors: 2 millionOpening its doors to the public on May 30, 1930, the Shedd Aquarium is one of the world’s longest operating indoor aquariums.
In its 90 year history, the aquarium has housed and cared for hundreds of thousands of sea creatures, including moon jellyfish, beluga whales, Alaskan sea otters, pacific white-sided dolphins, green sea turtles, yellow spotted rays, and more.
The Shedd Aquarium contains more than 1,500 species and over 32,000 animals. The facility features several permanent exhibits, including Waters of the World, Caribbean Reef, Amazon Rising, Wild Reef, and the Abbott Oceanarium.
They reportedly generate more than $65.3 million in annual revenue, a number that is almost certainly driven by ticket sales. Currently, general adult admission tickets hover around $39.95.
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uShaka Marine World. Durban, South Africa
Total Water Volume: 4.6 million gallons
Largest Tank: 1 million
Annual Visitors: 790,433This 40-acre oceanic theme park opened its doors on April 30, 2004, and now ranks among the world’s top 10 largest aquariums. uShaka Marine World is most famous for being Africa’s largest aquarium, housing more than 10,000 marine species.
Situated on South Africa’s golden mile, uShake Marine World attracts visitors from across the globe, all hoping to get a look at the aquarium’s hammerhead sharks, eagle rays, dolphins, ragged-tooth sharks, local gamefish, kingfish, giant groupers, and silvertip sharks.
uShaka Marine World is comprised of 32 tanks, all designed around five underground shipwrecks. Some of the aquarium’s top attractions include a 13,737-gallon coral exhibit, a hands-on snorkel experience, and a dolphin and seal show.
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The Atlantic Sea Park. Ålesund, Norway
Total Water Volume: 4 million gallons
Largest Tank: 1.1 million gallons
Annual Visitors: 2.5 millionThe Atlantic Sea Park is regarded as one of Scandinavia’s largest saltwater aquariums. The Oceanarium was founded in 1951, and the current facility, which is built into the coastline of Tueneset, just west of Ålesund, opened its doors to the public on June 15, 1998.
The aquarium boasts an impressive 43,000 square feet of indoor exhibitions and 65,000 square feet of outdoor space. The aquarium’s exhibitions include 11 large tanks, two open touch pools, two activity pools, and several smaller viewing tanks.
The Atlantic Sea Park is known for showcasing marine life and ecosystems that comprise the Atlantic Ocean, particularly those waters surrounding Norway. Its largest saltwater tank, named the Great Atlantic Tank, features a variety of cod, halibut, conger, salmon, and deep water marine life.
The aquarium is perhaps most famously known for housing one of the largest seal exhibits in the world. The facility opened its seal exhibit, Selbukta, in 2014 and now cares for dozens of harbor seals and educates the public on how seals live, interact, and behave.
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The Dubai Aquarium And Underwater Zoo. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Total Water Volume: 2.77 million gallons
Largest Tank: 2.6 million
Annual Visitors: 1.5 millionThe Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo are especially unique in that it is located inside the Dubai Mall, the largest shopping mall in the world. The facility opened to the public in 2008. It features more than 140 ocean species, including numerous sumo-sized groupers and large schools of pelagic fish.
The aquarium is famously known for its 107 foot viewing panel, which affords visitors a unique look into the lives and behaviors of more than 400 sharks and rays, including the world’s largest collection of Sand Tiger sharks.
The aquarium and the underwater zoo feature a variety of unique activities, including presentations and feedings, shark dives, snorkeling, and encounters with crocodiles, otters, and rays. The aquarium is also highly regarded for having a special lighting system aimed at changing the ambiance of the tank throughout the day.
Additionally, the facility also operates an Ocean School Education Program dedicated to educating community members and students at private and public schools throughout the United Arab Emirates on marine life and conservation.
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Ranking the World’s Largest Aquariums
This list of the world’s ten largest aquariums is ranked by the total water volume of each facility.
The list below also includes important information on each aquarium’s largest tank, as well as the number of annual visitors they report. However, rankings are based solely on the aquarium’s total combined water volume.
It should be noted that a few of the aquariums listed below operate in conjunction with amusement parks, which drive their number of annual visitors up considerably.
Author
Elsie is an experienced writer, reporter, and content creator. As a leader in her field, Elsie is best known for her work as a Reporter for The Southampton Press, but she can also be credited with contributions to Long Island Pulse Magazine and Hamptons Online. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Stony Brook University and currently resides in Franklin, Tennessee.
