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The New Georgia Aquarium

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Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium Is The World's Largest and Most Impressive

Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium is one of the best family attractions you could visit, and probably the most impressive aquarium in the world. The Georgia Aquarium is adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park and the new World of Coca-Cola in downtown Atlanta. It sits on 9.5 acres of land donated by the Coca-Cola Company.

The Georgia Aquarium is the world's largest with more than eight million gallons of water and the largest collection of aquatic animals. The exterior of the building was designed to look like a giant ship breaking through a wave. As you enter the huge atrium inside the building, you are led by a "wall of fish." You then have the choice of entering five galleries. Each gallery is easily identified by an icon and signage at the entrance.

The Five Galleries
The five distinct galleries within the Georgia Aquarium depict five different habitats, ranging from arctic to tropical. Unlike most aquariums, the Georgia Aquarium does not follow a linear layout, instead you can decide your own path and the order in which you visit each gallery.

Come along with me as we explore each habitat and experience the wonders of the deep.

All photos of are courtesy of the Georgia Aquarium.
For more information about the Aquarium and to purchase tickets visit Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium

Explore The Five Main Galleries of the Georgia Aquarium

  1. Georgia Aquarium - Ocean Voyager Viewing Window
  3. Ocean Voyager - Georgia Aquarium Masterpiece
  5. Cold Water Quest - The Chilly Unknown
  6. River Scout - Freshwater Mysteries
  7. Georgia Aquarium - A Gift to the People of the State of Georgia
  8. Tropical Diver - The Coral Kingdom
  9. Georgia Explorer - Discover Our Coast
  10. A Few Items to Enhance Your Aquarium Visit
  11. Small Fish Swim With A Whale Shark
  12. Get An Up Close View of the Georgia Aquarium
  13. The 4D Theater - Georgia Aquarium's State of the Art Theater
  14. Behind the Scenes Tours
  15. Georgia Aquarium Ticket Prices
  16. Need Help Getting To The Georgia Aquarium?
  17. Have You Been To Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium?
  18. Just A Little About Me
  19. More Travel Lenses by RocketMoms

Georgia Aquarium - Ocean Voyager Viewing Window

Journey with the Giants

The gallery features the largest aquarium viewing window in the western hemisphere, giving guests an amazing view of four whale sharks, the largest fish in the world, and a manta ray, the only one in the United States.

The whale shark is the largest of all fishes, it is not a whale. A whale shark uses its huge mouth to feed on plankton.

Ocean Voyager - Georgia Aquarium Masterpiece

Journey with the Giants

The Ocean Voyager gallery is the masterpiece of the aquarium. Holding 6.33 million gallons of water and thousands of animals, it is the largest single habitat in the world. It is almost as long as an NFL football field measuring 284 feet long, 126 feet wide and 30 feet deep at it largest points.

You can soak in the majesty of the animals from several different angles including a 100-foot long tunnel that surrounds you with water and animals on three sides. Through the magnificent, aquarium viewing window you will be amazed by the only whale sharks in captivity outside of Asia and the only manta ray in the United States.

This exhibit is also home to the largest collection of giant grouper, potato grouper, humphead wrasse, tarpon, giant trevally, batfish, sawfish, blacktip reef sharks, great hammerhead sharks and wobbegong sharks.

It is truly a magical experience.

Cold Water Quest

Georgia Aquarium's three beluga whales live in an 800,000-gallon exhibit specially designed to simulate their natural habitat.

The beluga whale is found in arctic and subarctic waters. The body of a beluga whale is stocky and has separate layers of blubber to help keep warm.

Cold Water Quest - The Chilly Unknown

The entrance to the Cold Water Quest is marked by a snow-covered cliff, and features animals from the icy waters of the polar regions to the temperate seas of California, South Africa and south Australia.

This exhibit is home to three charismatic beluga whales, a reclusive giant pacific octopus, sea otters, and the intricate weedy sea dragons.

Cold Water Quest will give you a glimpse of the rich variety of life found in cold ocean waters.

River Scout

Red piranha have powerful jaws with triangular, interlocking, sharp teeth.

River Scout - Freshwater Mysteries

River Scout is the only freshwater gallery in the Aquarium. It features animals found in rivers and lakes around the world including Africa, South America, Asia, and even Georgia.

The unique design and architecture presents a themed environment of waterfalls, logjams and an overhead river, giving you an unusual perspective.

Here you can get a up-close look at the razor-sharp teeth of the piranha and be amused by the highly sociable Asian small-clawed otters. You will also find African cichlids, alligators, electric eels, and much more.

Georgia Aquarium - A Gift to the People of the State of Georgia


  • The Aquarium is a $250+ million gift to the Atlanta community and the people
    of the state of Georgia from Bernie Marcus, co-founder of The Home Depot,
    and his wife Billi, through the Marcus Foundation. The Aquarium in total is
    a $320+ million facility, including a $13 million improvement project.

  • The Aquarium opened debt-free.

  • The Aquarium is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization overseen by a board of
    directors.

Tropical Diver

The coral reef exhibit in Tropical Diver houses yellow tang, palette surgeonfish and live corals.

Tropical Diver - The Coral Kingdom

The Coral Kingdom creatively displays collections as a gallery of living art. Here you can view graceful jellies, whimsical garden eels that pop out of the sand, and other jewels of the sea.

This 164,000-gallon exhibit is the largest living coral reef exhibit in any U.S. aquarium, and it is home to thousands of vibrantly-hued blue, purple, pink, yellow, orange, green and red tropical fish. This recreation of a pacific barrier reef is completed by an overhead synthesized crashing wave.

Georgia Explorer

Loggerhead sea turtles are thought to not mature until the age of 20,
and it is believed they can live until well over 100 years of age.

Georgia Explorer - Discover Our Coast

Georgia Explorer allows you get up close and personal with four touch pools featuring bonnethead sharks, cownose rays, horseshoe crabs, sea stars and shrimp. Children enjoy the large play area and a simulated shrimp boat.

The entrance to this gallery is marked by a lighthouse and features animals found along the coast of Georgia. Throughout the gallery, you will be entertained and educated by exhibits displaying Atlantic spadefish, redhorse suckers, lionfish, and loggerhead sea turtles.

A Few Items to Enhance Your Aquarium Visit

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Small Fish Swim With A Whale Shark

Small fish swim along with a whale shark, Rhincodon typus
Small fish swim along with a whale shark, Rhincodon typus
Framed Art PrintSkerry, Brian J.
Buy at AllPosters.com

Get An Up Close View of the Georgia Aquarium

Go behind the scenes to see how scientists, engineers, and veterinarians are creating and managing the Georgia Aquarium, the world's newest and largest aquarium.

Management and care of the vast array of fish and mammals requires new techniques and technologies, and many species can now be studied in-depth for the first time. Medicine, biology, zoology, environmental science and engineering all come to play in creating this new aquarium adventure.
Georgia Aquarium - Keepers of the Deep

Georgia Aquarium - Keepers of the Deep

Amazon Price: $8.31 (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now

Customer Review:

"If you can't actually go to the Aquarium, this really is the next best thing! We try to go to local aquariums whenever we travel and this one is absolutely the best. It's just amazing. Be sure to watch all the special features.

You actually get more visuals of the various aquariums from the extras than you do from the main documentary, although the main feature give you all the "backstage" stuff you don't get to see when you're actually there."

The 4D Theater - Georgia Aquarium's State of the Art Theater

Deepo's Undersea 3D Wondershow

The 4D theater combines 3D technology with unique special effects so that you "fee" as well as see the film production.

Deepo, an orange garibaldi fish is the Aquarium's mascot. In his Undersea 3D Wondershow he takes you on an undersea adventure with a variety of entertaining characters, including friendly sharks, singing sea turtles and playful dolphins.

The theater holds 250 guests per show, with multiple shows per day. Admission to the Theater is $5.50 for adults and $4.00 for children (age 3-12).

Behind the Scenes Tours

Get a Special Look at How Things Work Inside the Georgia Aquarium

Behind the Scenes Tours allow you to experience the world's largest aquarium from a different angle. They include views from above various exhibits, and learning how salt water and crashing waves are created. You will also discover how the massive filtration system works and see the husbandry commissary, vet clinic, and surgical room.

You must be 10 years of age or older to take the hour-long tour. A 45-minute tour is also available for families with children ages 5-10.

Although the tickets for these tours are not cheap ($50 per person); you will come away with a feeling of wonder and appreciation for the magnificent world of water.

Georgia Aquarium Ticket Prices

Annual passes:
Adults: $65.00
Children (age 3-12): $48.00
Seniors (65+): $54.00

Single day tickets:
Adults: $26.00
Children: $19.50
Seniors: $21.50

-- Prices include sales tax

Visit Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium
to purchase tickets.

Need Help Getting To The Georgia Aquarium?

Just enter your travel details to get information about visiting Atlanta and the Georgia Aquarium. Don't worry, there is not obligation for just looking.

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Have You Been To Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium?

Please leave you comments about this lens. If you have not yet had an opportunity to visit the Georgia Aquarium, I hope that you will consider it soon.

  • HorseAndPony Apr 23, 2010 @ 12:42 pm | delete
    I'm back for a visit. This is a great lens. Blessed! http://www.squidoo.com/horseandpony-squidangel
  • Pukeko Nov 19, 2009 @ 5:41 am | delete
    Well Done. Blessed by a Squidoo Angel (if you want, you can add your link at Angel Blessings from Pukeko)
  • HorseAndPony Oct 19, 2009 @ 12:17 pm | delete
    We love to visit aquariums. If we are ever in the area we will make sure we visit. The Ocean Voyager Viewing Window looks like it is amazing. Loved this lens. Your images are great.
  • momto4 Oct 1, 2009 @ 7:13 pm | delete
    I love aquariums! We'll have to visit this one next time we're in the area. Great lens!
  • WindyWinters Sep 24, 2009 @ 1:04 am | delete
    Wonderful Aquarium Lens! 5* I would love to visit this one. What fabulous sea animals & fish!
  • bdkz Sep 21, 2009 @ 7:45 pm | delete
    I love fish! This is beautiful!
  • Sylvestermouse Sep 21, 2009 @ 6:09 pm | delete
    This looks like a great place! A trip definitely worth making. Lensrolled to my Memphis Zoo lens.
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Just A Little About Me

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by

LindaBee

As a Georgia resident, I am very proud of this wonderful, educational, and spectacular exhibit. more »

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