Cairns Aquarium facts for kids
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| Date opened | 2017 |
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| Location | Cairns, Queensland, Australia |
| Coordinates | 16°55′06″S 145°46′26″E / 16.918417°S 145.773831°E |
| No. of animals | 16,000 |
| Volume of largest tank | 400,000 litres (88,000 imp gal; 110,000 US gal) |
| Total volume of tanks | 3 million litres |
| Memberships | ZAA |
| Major exhibits | 71 |
The Cairns Aquarium is a super cool place to explore the underwater world! It was the first big public aquarium built in Australia in 18 years. This amazing spot is home to over 16,000 different animals and plants. They live in 10 special areas that look just like their natural homes.
The aquarium cost about $54 million to build. It covers a huge area, about 7,800 square meters, and has three levels. Inside, you'll find 71 different tanks! One of these is Australia's biggest freshwater tank, holding 400,000 litres of water. There's also a deep-sea tank and the world's first tank that truly shows how tides move.
This aquarium is special because it displays animals you might not see anywhere else. These include rare or endangered species from the local area. For example, you can see emerald tree monitors, Jardine River painted turtles, ribboned pipefish, and even scalloped hammerhead sharks.
The Cairns Aquarium is more than just a place to see fish. It's also a centre for learning and research. It helps scientists study marine life. Plus, it's home to the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, which helps injured sea turtles get better.
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Awesome Achievements
The Cairns Aquarium has won some cool awards! In 2018, it won two big awards from Master Builder Queensland.
- It was named "Project of the Year."
- It also won the award for "Leisure Facilities over $10 million." These awards show how well the aquarium was built and designed.
Explore the Ecosystems
The aquarium has 10 amazing ecosystems that show different parts of Queensland's natural world.
Rivers and Rainforests
- Wet Tropics Rainforest: This area shows what the rainforest looks like above and below the water. You can see freshwater fish, turtles, and even some reptiles.
- Gully: This part looks like a small stream or creek. It's home to animals that live in fast-moving water.
- River Monsters: Get ready to see some of the biggest freshwater fish! These giants live in the rivers of Queensland.
Coastal and Reef Wonders
- Mangrove: Mangroves are special trees that grow in salty water near the coast. This exhibit shows the unique animals that live among their roots.
- Ribbon Reef: This tank is like a window into the beautiful Great Barrier Reef. You'll see colourful corals and many different reef fish.
- Coral Sea: This deep tank shows what life is like further out in the ocean, beyond the main reef. You might spot bigger fish and sharks here.
Special Habitats
- Dangers of the Deep: This area explores the mysterious deep sea. You'll learn about creatures that live where the sun doesn't shine.
- Loggerhead Turtle: This exhibit is dedicated to the amazing loggerhead sea turtles. You can learn about their lives and how the rehabilitation centre helps them.
- Oceanarium: This is a huge tank where you can see large sharks, rays, and other big ocean animals swimming around. It's like being in the ocean with them!
- Touch and Talk: This is a fun, interactive area where you can gently touch some marine animals and learn more about them from the staff.
