Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Public aquarium in Motobu, Japan
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is a public aquarium in Motobu, Japan, displaying a series of tanks that recreate marine environments from the surface waters to the deep sea around Okinawa. The tanks are designed so visitors can walk through different levels and view marine habitats from various angles, including coral reefs, rocky shores, and dark deep-sea zones.
The facility opened in November 2002 within Ocean Expo Park and later received the Public Buildings Award for its architectural and educational contributions. The site was chosen to commemorate the Okinawa International Ocean Exposition held in 1975 and to advance regional marine research.
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The facility is accessible for wheelchair users, with ramps and elevators connecting all main areas. Visitors should plan around three to four hours to view the exhibits comfortably and catch feeding times.
The main tank, Kuroshio Sea, measures 35 meters (115 feet) long and holds whale sharks and manta rays swimming among thousands of fish. The acrylic panel at the front weighs over 100 tons and ranks among the largest of its kind worldwide.
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