Great Lakes Aquarium facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Great Lakes Aquarium

Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth, MN
Date opened	July 29, 2000
Location	Duluth, Minnesota, USA
Coordinates	46°46′45.36″N 92°6′1″W / 46.7792667°N 92.10028°W / 46.7792667; -92.10028
No. of animals	1500
No. of species	250
Volume of largest tank	85,000 US gal (320,000 L)
Total volume of tanks	175,000 US gal (660,000 L)

The Great Lakes Aquarium is a fun place to visit in Duluth, right by the water. It opened in the year 2000. This aquarium is special because it focuses mostly on freshwater animals. You can see creatures from the Great Lakes area. But it also has animals from other parts of the world. These include places like the Amazon River and Pacific reefs.

The aquarium is home to over 200 different kinds of animals. You can find fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and even some mammals here. Many of the exhibits look like real places. They show "slices" of habitats from the Lake Superior basin. You can explore areas like the Saint Louis River and Isle Royale.

Explore the Exhibits

Isle Royale: Deep Waters

The Isle Royale exhibit is the biggest tank in the aquarium. It holds about 85,000-US-gallon (320,000 L) of water! This huge tank is right in the middle of the building. You can see it from both the first and second floors. It's home to many fish native to Minnesota. These include perch, panfish, trout, lake sturgeon, and gar.

Baptism River: Fast Flow

The Baptism River exhibit shows a fast-moving river. It even has a cool waterfall! Here, you can see fish like kamloops and siscowet.

Saint Louis River: Slow and Steady

The Saint Louis River exhibit is a calm, slow-moving river habitat. You can spot fish like perch, walleye, sturgeon, and channel catfish here. These are all native species found in the area.

Otter Cove: Playful Otters

Otter Cove is a very popular exhibit. It's home to two North American river otters named Agate and Ore. These two female otters are believed to be sisters. They came to the aquarium in 2014. They were rescued from a crayfish farm in Louisiana. The aquarium helped give them a safe new home. Otter Cove looks like a real cove from Pukaskwa National Park in Ontario.

Amazing Amazon: World's Biggest River

The Amazing Amazon exhibit opened in 2008. It features amazing freshwater creatures from the largest river in the world. You can see interesting fish like Pacu, Arowana, Piranha, Catfish, Electric Eels, and Discus.

Unsalted Seas: Global Lakes

Opened in 2016, Unsalted Seas explores large lakes from around the world. It shows the animals that live in them. This exhibit has the biggest sturgeon touch pool in North America. You can learn about sturgeon from Russia and North Asia. Some types you might see are Beluga, Sevruga, Sterlet, and Russian sturgeon.

Raptor Ridge: Birds of Prey

Raptor Ridge opened in 2019. It's home to two special birds: Bogey, a Bald Eagle, and Horus, a Turkey Vulture. These birds cannot be released back into the wild. This exhibit teaches you about how birds of prey migrate, get help when injured, and are cared for.

Origins: Life Through Time

Origins takes you on a journey through Earth's history. It shows how life has changed over time. You can see animals like Corals, Invertebrates, Alligators, Grayling, Opossums, and Skunks.

Wild Neighbors: Animals Next Door

This exhibit features animals you might find right outside your home! You can see a crow, snakes, frogs, turtles, and chipmunks. It helps you learn about the local ecosystem around us.

Aquatic Invaders: Unwanted Guests

This exhibit teaches you about invasive species. These are animals or plants that are not native to an area. They can cause harm to the environment.

Other Cool Spots

Around the aquarium, you'll find smaller tanks. These have animals like fish, frogs, salamanders, and snakes. There are also many interactive screens and games. You can also explore a local history center and a science center.

Special Shows and Events

The aquarium often has special exhibits that change over time. In 2014, they had "Shipwrecks Alive!" This exhibit showed how sea life makes homes in old shipwrecks. It even featured the wreck of the SS America. Another past exhibit was "Masters of Disguise." This show explored how animals use camouflage and mimicry to hide.

Building the Aquarium

Another view of the aquarium building

It took about three and a half years to build the Great Lakes Aquarium. The cost was around $34 million. The building has great views of the harbor. When you visit, you can ride an escalator to the upper level first. This starts your journey through the "Sensory Immersion Experience." Then you can explore the lower level.

Aquarium History

The Great Lakes Aquarium first opened its doors on July 29, 2000. The land for the aquarium was given by local helpers, Julia and Caroline Marshall. The building was paid for by state and local money, plus over $6 million in private donations. Over the years, different groups have helped manage the aquarium. Since 2008, the aquarium has focused on making continuous improvements. They work to fix, replace, or remove any exhibits that need attention. They also plan for new exhibits and educational programs. The Great Lakes Aquarium is a non-profit organization. This means it uses its money to help the aquarium and its mission, not to make a profit.

See also

• "A Walking Tour of Great Lakes Aquarium" volunteer orientation manual