Tennessee Aquarium

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Tennessee Aquarium

Image:Tennesseeaquarium.JPG
Date opened	May 1, 1992 <ref name="tnaqua/at a glance">http://www.tnaqua.org/Newsroom/AQ_at_a_glance.asp</ref>
Location	Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
# of Animals	12,000 <ref name="tnaqua/meet animals">http://www.tnaqua.org/Animals/Meet_our_animals.asp retrieved October 22, 2006</ref>
Accreditations/ Memberships	AZA
Website
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The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, Tennessee is the largest freshwater aquarium in the world. It tells the story of the river, following the path of a raindrop from high in the Appalachian Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico. Although more than 1,500 miles separate the mountain streams from the sea, visitors to the Aquarium can make the entire trip in just one visit.

The self-guided tour takes visitors through three living forests under glass and exhibits that teem with life above and below the water’s surface. Along the way, visitors see thousands of animals like free-flying song birds, exotic butterflies, snapping turtles, sandbar and sand tiger sharks, stingrays, river otters, moray eels and colorful reef fish.

Other visitor favorites include the "Boneless Beauties" gallery where guests enjoy invertebrates like jellyfish, cuttlefish, giant Pacific octopus and Japanese spider crabs.

More than just a pretty place, the Tennessee Aquarium is heavily involved in propagation, conservation and education efforts concerning endangered and threatened creatures and habitats like lake sturgeon, turtles and the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Every ticket purchased supports education, research and conservation programs.

And the aquatic experience continues outside the Aquarium’s doors on Chattanooga's riverfront. With acres of parks, miles of walking trails and a variety of public art, downtown Chattanooga offers visitors a variety of experiences – all surrounded by the beautiful mountains and attractions.