Loveland Living Planet Aquarium facts for kids
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Touch pool located at the aquarium.
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| Date opened | February 28, 1999 |
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| Location | Draper, Utah, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°31′56″N 111°53′38″W / 40.53222°N 111.89389°W |
| No. of animals | 2,484 |
| No. of species | 450+ |
| Volume of largest tank | 300,000 US gallons (1,100,000 L) |
| Total volume of tanks | 600,000 US gallons (2,271,000 L) |
| Annual visitors | 1 million + |
| Memberships | 30,000 |
| Major exhibits | 74 |
The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is a super cool place to visit in Draper, Utah, United States. It's like a giant underwater world right here on land! This amazing aquarium is home to over 4,500 animals from more than 550 different kinds of species. You can explore five main areas, each with its own unique animals and habitats.
History of the Aquarium
The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium was started in 1997 by a person named Brent Andersen. He grew up in Utah and studied marine biology, which is the science of ocean life. He wanted to create a place where people could learn about and connect with animals from all over the world.
Awesome Exhibits to Explore
The aquarium has many exciting exhibits where you can see animals from different parts of the planet. Each area is designed to make you feel like you're really there!
Ocean Explorer: Dive into the Deep Blue
The Ocean Explorer exhibit takes you on a journey through the world's oceans. You'll see amazing saltwater creatures like colorful jellyfish, sneaky moray eels, clever octopus, and graceful seahorses. There are also big sea turtles, unique wolf eels, and popular clownfish.
One of the most exciting parts is seeing nine different kinds of sharks! These include swellsharks, horn sharks, coral catsharks, and even zebra sharks. You can walk through a special shark tunnel that weighs a massive 26,000 pounds! It's made of super thick acrylic, so you're perfectly safe while sharks swim all around you.
Antarctic Adventure: Meet the Penguins
Get ready for a chilly adventure in the Antarctic Adventure! This exhibit makes you feel like you're at a research station in the Falkland Islands. The main stars here are the adorable gentoo penguins. They love to swim and waddle around. In early April 2025, some macaroni penguins also joined the habitat, adding even more fun to the exhibit!
Journey to South America: Explore the Rainforest
Step into a lush rainforest in the Journey to South America exhibit. This area is filled with animals that live in these amazing forests. You might spot a huge 14-foot yellow anaconda or watch piranhas swim. There are also caiman (like small alligators), tiny corydoras fish, and even tarantulas.
You can also see tree boas, electric eels, and colorful poison dart frogs. This exhibit teaches you how important rainforests are for our planet. It also shows how we can help protect these special places and all the animals that call them home.
Discover Utah: Local Wildlife Wonders
The Discover Utah exhibit was added during a big update on October 24, 2013. This section focuses on animals that live right here in Utah. You can see beautiful Bonneville Cutthroat Trout swimming in their tanks. There are also slow and steady Desert tortoises.
A favorite for many visitors are the playful North American River Otters. This exhibit is presented by the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. It helps everyone learn about the amazing wildlife found in our own backyard.
Expedition: Asia: Creatures from the East
Expedition: Asia opened on June 15, 2016, and brings you face-to-face with animals from across Asia. You can see a pair of clouded leopards, which are super cool big cats. There are also three playful Asian small-clawed otters.
The exhibit features a baby Komodo dragon, which is the largest lizard in the world! You'll also find many different kinds of Asian birds, fish, and reptiles. Look out for tiny Vietnamese white clouds fish, colorful Nicobar pigeons, and smart common hill myna birds. A special highlight of this exhibit are the aquarium's two roul-rouls, named Roulanda and Raoul.
Rio Tinto Kennecott Plaza: Outdoor Fun
The Rio Tinto Kennecott Plaza was added to the aquarium in 2020. This outdoor area is a great place to take a break and have some fun. It has a special VR (virtual reality) claw game that's really popular. There are also two playgrounds where kids can run and play. Plus, you can see outdoor habitats with different kinds of fish.
Community Outreach Programs
The aquarium's education team works hard to teach people about animals and conservation. They have two special programs that travel to different places: the Utah Waters Van and the Rainforest Van. These vans bring the aquarium's lessons directly to schools and communities, helping more people learn about our amazing planet.
See also
In Spanish: Acuario The Living Planet para niños
