Vancouver Aquarium

City: Vancouver
Country: Canada
State: British Columbia
Region: Lower Mainland
Opend 15.06.1956

Species 600

The aquarium covers approximately 9,000 square metres (97,000 sq ft) and has a total of 166 aquatic displays. There are a number of different galleries, several of which were built at different times throughout the aquarium's history. They are divided in to these areas:

• Pacific Canada Pavilion. This central indoor exhibit consists of a 260,000 litre tank directly adjacent to the entrance. Fishes and invertebrates from the Strait of Georgia are displayed in the exhibit.
• Arctic Canada Originally this gallery included the Beluga whales along with several non-living displays. In October 2009, a new exhibit opened here displaying several other arctic species, including fishes and invertebrates, along with expanded non-living exhibits.
• The Wild Coast This is an outdoor gallery that includes several pools. Three Pacific White-sided Dolphins, three sea otters, and a harbour porpoise are permanently on display here, along with several "touchpools" where visitors are able to touch British Columbian invertebrates. Several other species (harbour seals, Steller's Sea Lions, and northern fur seals) are rotated in to display in this area. When not on display they live in habitats behind the scenes that are not accessible to visitors.
• Treasures of the BC Coast. This gallery is a series of separate exhibits that simulate the various aquatic environments on the BC coast. Octopi, Rockfish, sea stars, sea urchins, and anemones are among the animals here.
• Tropic Zone This gallery contains a large display of tropical fish and other animals, including blacktip reef sharks and a green sea turtle named Schoona.
• Amazon Rainforest A number of fresh water fish, snakes, caimans, sloths, birds, and other creatures from the Amazon inhabit this gallery.
• Frogs Forever? Gallery This gallery is an exhibit focused on the plight of the world's frog population which endeavors to show how people can help protect frogs and other amphibians. It contains 26 species of amphibians from around the world.
• Canaccord Exploration Gallery This gallery is home to jellies, fish, and other animals. The 4D Theatre and the children's play area known as "Clownfish Cove" are here, along with multiple classrooms for school groups, including the wet lab education room, which contains both conventional teaching methods such as computers, tables, and chairs, along with live animals and various artefacts.