Aquarium de La Rochelle, Public aquarium in La Rochelle, France.
Aquarium de La Rochelle is a public marine aquarium in La Rochelle on the French Atlantic coast with dozens of tanks spread across three floors. The facility displays species from the Atlantic, Mediterranean and tropical waters in rooms organized by geographic zone.
The facility opened in 1988, expanding the maritime heritage of this Atlantic coast city. It grew over the following decades into one of the major centers for marine research in Europe.
The name comes from the Latin word for water tank, and visitors today see creatures living in tanks that recreate their natural homes. Families and school groups watch fish, crabs and jellyfish in different sections organized by ocean region.
The building sits about a five-minute walk from the train station in the harbor district. Opening times vary by season, with longer visiting hours extending into late evening during summer months.
Divers feed sharks and rays in the Atlantic tank while marine biologists explain their behavior and feeding habits to onlookers. These narrated feedings offer insights into the lives of large predators that most visitors only see from a distance.
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