National Aquarium

Photo: Andrew Horne License: Public Domain

The National Aquarium is a non-profit public aquarium. The aquarium opened on August 8, 1981. It holds more than 2,200,000 US gallons (8,300,000 l) of water, and has more than 17,000 specimens representing over 750 species.

The National Aquarium's mission is to inspire conservation of the world's aquatic treasures.

The National Aquarium houses several exhibits including the Upland Tropical Rain Forest, a multiple-story Atlantic Coral Reef, an open ocean shark tank, and Australia: Wild Extremes, which won the "Best Exhibit" award from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2008. The aquarium also has a 4D Immersion Theater.