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Coral World Underwater Observatory, Eilat
PikiWiki Israel 8126 underwater observatory in eilat.jpg
The Underwater Observatory, with the Coral 2000 glass-bottom boat
Date opened 1974
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

Eilat's Coral World Underwater Observatory is a public aquarium, park and conservation center located at Eilat, Israel. It is the biggest public aquarium in Israel, and it hosts over 800 species. It was founded in 1974 and was the first of its kind. The park and aquarium is located at the south of Eilat's Coral Beach Nature Reserve.

History

The park was founded in 1974 by the zoologist and marine biologist David Friedman. Also the idea of the observatory was planned in 1972, it took careful planning to create the observatory without harming the natural environment. The observatory was built completely on land, and was then drowned in the water of the red sea Using armory parts and other metals.

The base of the observatory was connected to large iron chains, and after the observatory was placed many corals were planted on and around the observatory in order to repair the damage that was done during the making of the observatory. The coral reef around the observatory flourished and became a major feeding spot for many fish, both carnivorous and vegetarian.

Exhibits

Entrance aquarium

The entrance aqurium is a medium cubic aquarium in the entrance aquare of the park. It features several species such as Corals, Butterflyfishes, crabs, and more. The aquarium (as well as in all the other exhibits at the park) is connected directly to Red Sea and so the water are pumped and replaced constantly with Red sea water, and so fully natural conditions are kept within the aquarium.

Red Sea Circular Exhibit

The Red Sea Circular Exhibit is a 360 degrees exhibit in which the visitors stand in the middle and are surrounded by 360,000 litres of water featuring a complete natural ecosystem. The exhibit features Corals, Herbivore Fish, Carnivorous fish, Parsites, Crabs, Shrimps and more, all living in one functioning ecosystem. All the animals are fed daily thus making sure they don't harm each other. The Circular exhibit is used for many researches about the unique ecosystem of coral reefs. The water in the circular exhibit are pumped from 42 meters deep in the red sea and are circulated 24/7.

Turtle and Stingray pools

The Turtle and Stingray pools are three shallow (3.5 meter deep) pools, which exhibit Hawksbill sea turtle, Green sea turtles, and Spotted eagle rays. In the middle of one of the pools there's a small sand island for females to lay their eggs on. When the eggs hatch, the baby sea turtles are taken into small aquarium, where they are safe from predators and where they get food and vaccinations. When they grow they are transferred to bigger aquarium, and finally when they are two year old with very high chance to survive in the wild they are released into the ocean. The Underwater Observatory's turtle conservation program is one of the leading programs in the field and so far has released hundreds of turtles back to nature.

Rare Fish exhibit

The Rare Fish Exhibit is a large exhibit separated into three rooms which exhibits rare fauna and flora of the red sea in medium sizd aquriums. The first two rooms feature animals such as Lionfishes, Red Sea clownfish, Star Fish, Rare Corals, Moray eels, Lobsters, Sea horses and more. In the exhibit there is a total of 250 species, featured in 35 medium auariums. Some of the animals in the exhibit are in the observatory park for means of breeding and conservation.

The conservation program is a success and since 2002 thousands sea horses has been released into the Red sea. Despite the animals the aquariums are designed to mimic the animals' natural habitat and thus educate visitors about different marine biomes and habitats.

The third room of the exhibit is the nocturnal room. The nocrurnal room features various nocturnal animals such as Flashlight Fish, squids, Jellyfishes, Crabs and more. The ehibit also features active and awake corals, as corals are nocturnal animals. most of the animals in the exhibit are capable of lumination.

Amazon Hut

The Amazon Hut is a Rainforest theme exhibit featuring aquatic animals from South America, Such as Caimans, Electric Eel, Piranhas, Arowanas, Dart Frogs, Lizards, Taranatulas, and more. It is used for explanations about fresh water ecosystem and the importance of rainforests.

"Shark World"

The "Shark World" exhibit is a huge exhibit containing 3,000,000 L (790,000 US gal) of water, and featuring 20 shark species, Rays and Corals. The exhibit has a huge viewing window, an underwater tunnel and an interactive explanations area with educational stations about the importance of sharks and the threats that make sharks endangered.

Additional Atrractions and activities

  • Oceanarium

The Oceanarium is a 4D movie teaching about the life of sharks in the wild, especially the rare Whale Shark.

  • Opening pearl oysters
  • The underwater observator
  • Coral 2000
  • Feeding pool
  • Amusement Park

Additional shops

In addition to the animal exhibits, educational stations and ativities, The park owns several shops, such as two jewelry shops, Photography shop, diving shop, "Shark Bay" Restaurant, Huge gift shop, and three kiosks and coffee houses.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Observatorio del Parque Marino de Eilat para niños

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