Aquarium of the Pacific facts for kids
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| Date opened | June 20, 1998 |
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| Location | Long Beach, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 33°45′44″N 118°11′49″W / 33.76216°N 118.19692°W |
| No. of animals | 11,000 |
| No. of species | 500 |
| Volume of largest tank | 350,000 US gallons (1,300,000 L) |
| Annual visitors | 1.7 million |
| Memberships | AZA |
| Major exhibits | Coral Reefs: Nature's Underwater Cities, June Keyes Penguin Habitat, Lorikeet Forest, Northern Pacific Gallery, Shark Lagoon, Southern California/Baja Gallery, Tropical Pacific Gallery, Frogs: Dazzling and Disappearing, Sea Otter Habitat |
The Aquarium of the Pacific (formerly the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific) is a public aquarium on a 5-acre (20,000 m2) site on Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach, California, United States. It is situated across the water from the Long Beach Convention Center, Shoreline Village, and the Queen Mary Hotel and Attraction.
The aquarium is visited by 1.5 million visitors a year and has a total staff of about 1,875 people, including more than 1,500 volunteers and about 375 employees. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit aquarium.
The aquarium is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Exhibits
The aquarium features a collection of over 11,000 animals, representing over 500 different species, in exhibits ranging in size and capacity from about 5,000 to 350,000 gallons.
The Pacific Ocean is the focus of three major permanent galleries, Southern California and Baja, the Northern Pacific, and the Tropical Pacific. These exhibits introduce the inhabitants and seascapes of the Pacific, while also focusing on the specific conservation messages associated with each region.
Southern California & Baja Gallery
The Southern California & Baja Gallery features the varied habitats of this region. The first exhibit is the 142,000-US-gallon (540,000 L) three-story Blue Cavern tank, which houses animals that live in the waters surrounding Catalina Island. Next is the Amber Forest exhibit, which replicates a Giant kelp forest with Garibaldi, California scorpionfish, and other representative organisms. The Gulf of California exhibit houses Cortez rainbow wrasse, Mexican lookdowns, porcupine fish, and others. Other areas of the gallery include the 211,000-US-gallon (800,000 L) Seal and Sea Lion Habitat, Ray Touch Pool, and Shorebird Sanctuary.
Northern Pacific Gallery
The Northern Pacific Gallery focuses on organisms from the Bering Sea. Exhibits include the Sea Otter Habitat, home to southern sea otters; the giant Pacific octopus tank; and Diving Birds, where puffins and auklets live. Other species on display include Japanese spider crabs, jellyfish, and sea anemones.
Gallery
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Entrance to tropical gallery, designed to replicate a tropical coral reef lagoon
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California sea lion during training session
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Top of 350,000 gallon tropical habitat, viewable only during behind the scenes tours
See also
In Spanish: Acuario del Pacífico para niños
