Tennessee Aquarium, Public aquarium in downtown Chattanooga, USA
Tennessee Aquarium is a public aquarium in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, spread across two buildings connected by walkways along the riverfront. The exhibits display more than ten thousand animals from over three hundred species, from freshwater fish and alligators to sharks, penguins, and tropical reef dwellers.
The aquarium opened in early May 1992 as part of a city plan to revive the abandoned riverfront. The second hall was added a few years later, expanding the collection with marine life from tropical and temperate waters.
The name refers to the river flowing through town, whose ecosystem is recreated in one of the buildings. Visitors watch feedings where staff share facts about the animals, and children can touch rays in shallow pools.
Visitors follow pathways through both buildings, with themed areas distributed over several floors. Those short on time can focus on highlights like the glass tunnel or the otter habitat and spend roughly two hours on a tour.
A glass tunnel leads through a large tank where sharks and rays swim directly overhead. The freshwater collection is among the most extensive in North America, showing species from rivers and lakes around the world.
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