Coral World Underwater Observatory facts for kids
The Underwater Observatory, with the Coral 2000 glass-bottom boat
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| Date opened | 1974 |
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| Location | Eilat, Israel |
| No. of animals | 20,000 (Not including the wild aquatic animals that can be seen from the observatory, and hatchlings, considering most aquatic species are capable of laying hundreds of eggs) |
| No. of species | 850 (Not including the wild aquatic animals that can be seen from the observatory) |
| Volume of largest tank | 3,000,000 L (790,000 US gal) |
| Memberships | Coral world international |
| Major exhibits | Underwater observatory, Shark World, Rare Fish exhibit, Coral 2000, Amazon Hut, Red sea circular exhibit, Sea turtle exhibit |
The Eilat's Coral World Underwater Observatory is an amazing place in Eilat, Israel. It's like a giant underwater park where you can see all sorts of sea creatures! It's the biggest public aquarium in Israel and is home to over 800 different kinds of animals.
This special place first opened in 1974. It was the very first of its kind in the world. You can find it at the southern end of Eilat's Coral Beach Nature Reserve.
Contents
Discovering the History of the Observatory
The idea for this unique park started in 1972. It was founded in 1974 by a zoologist and marine biologist named David Friedman. Building the observatory was a big challenge! They had to plan very carefully to make sure they didn't harm the beautiful natural environment.
The observatory was actually built on land first. Then, it was carefully lowered into the water of the Red Sea. They even used old army parts and other metals to help build it. After the observatory was in place, many corals were planted around it. This helped to fix any damage from the building process. Now, the coral reef around the observatory is thriving. It's a popular feeding spot for many different fish, both plant-eaters and meat-eaters.
Exciting Exhibits to Explore
The Entrance Aquarium
Right when you walk into the park, you'll see the Entrance Aquarium. It's a medium-sized tank shaped like a cube. Inside, you can spot cool creatures like Corals, colorful Butterflyfishes, and crabs. The water in this aquarium, and all the others in the park, comes straight from the Red Sea. This means the animals live in completely natural conditions, just like in the ocean!
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The entrance aquarium
The Red Sea Circular Exhibit
Get ready for a 360-degree view at the Red Sea Circular Exhibit! You stand in the middle, surrounded by 360,000 liters of water. It's like being right inside a natural underwater world. This exhibit shows a complete ecosystem with Corals, plant-eating fish, meat-eating fish, crabs, and shrimps. All these animals live together in a working ecosystem. They are fed every day to make sure they don't hurt each other. Scientists use this exhibit to learn more about coral reefs. The water here is pumped from 42 meters deep in the Red Sea and is always moving.
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Parrotfish at the Circular exhibit
Caring for Turtles and Stingrays
The Turtle and Stingray pools are three shallow pools, about 3.5 meters deep. Here, you can see amazing Hawksbill sea turtles, Green sea turtles, and Spotted eagle rays. One of the pools has a small sand island. Female turtles use this island to lay their eggs.
When the baby turtles hatch, they are moved to small aquariums. This keeps them safe from predators and makes sure they get enough food and even vaccinations. As they grow, they move to bigger tanks. Finally, when they are two years old and strong enough to survive, they are released back into the ocean. The Underwater Observatory's turtle program is very successful. They have released hundreds of turtles back into nature!
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A female Green sea turtle in the turtle pool
Discovering Rare Fish
The Rare Fish Exhibit is a large area with three rooms. It shows off many rare animals and plants from the Red Sea in medium-sized aquariums. In the first two rooms, you'll find creatures like Lionfishes, Red Sea clownfish, Star Fish, rare Corals, Moray eels, lobsters, and sea horses. There are 250 different species in 35 aquariums! Some of these animals are at the observatory to help with breeding and conservation.
The conservation program for sea horses has been a big success. Since 2002, thousands of sea horses have been released into the Red Sea. The aquariums are designed to look like the animals' natural homes. This helps visitors learn about different ocean environments.
The third room is the Nocturnal Room. This room features animals that are active at night. You might see Flashlight Fish, squids, jellyfishes, and crabs. You can also see active corals, because corals are also nocturnal. Many of the animals in this room can even glow in the dark!
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An Octopus at the rare species exhibit
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Sea goldies at the rare species exhibit
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A common lionfish at the rare species exhibit
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A Red Sea clownfish at the rare species exhibit
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Sea horses at the rare species exhibit
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Nocturnal species at the rare species exhibit
Exploring the Amazon Hut
Step into the Amazon Hut and feel like you're in a rainforest! This exhibit features aquatic animals from South America. You can see Caimans, Electric Eels, Piranhas, Arowanas, Dart Frogs, Lizards, and even Tarantulas. It's a great place to learn about freshwater ecosystems and why rainforests are so important.
Diving into "Shark World"
Get ready for the amazing "Shark World" exhibit! This huge tank holds 3,000,000 L (790,000 US gal) of water. It's home to 20 different shark species, plus Rays and Corals. The exhibit has a giant viewing window and an awesome underwater tunnel you can walk through. There's also an area with interactive stations where you can learn all about sharks. You'll discover why sharks are important and what threats they face in the wild.
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A Reef shark at the shark exhibit
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Whitetip reef sharks at the shark exhibit
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The underwater tunnel
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A life-size statue of a Whale shark at the interactive explanation area.
More Fun and Activities
Besides the amazing animal exhibits, there are other cool things to do:
- Oceanarium: Watch a 4D movie about sharks, especially the rare Whale Shark.
- Opening Pearl Oysters: A fun activity where you can open an oyster and find a pearl.
- The Underwater Observatory: This is the main attraction, letting you see the natural reef up close.
- Coral 2000: A glass-bottom boat that takes you on a tour over the coral reefs.
- Feeding Pool: Watch staff feed some of the animals.
- Amusement Park: Enjoy some rides and games with a marine theme.
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A marine-themed amusement park at the underwater observatory
Shops and Places to Eat
The park also has several shops and places to grab a bite. You can find jewelry shops, a photography shop, a diving shop, and the "Shark Bay" Restaurant. There's also a big gift shop and a few kiosks and coffee houses.
Images for kids
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Glass-bottomed boat Coral 2000
See also
In Spanish: Observatorio del Parque Marino de Eilat para niños
