Mississippi Aquarium facts for kids
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| Date opened | August 29, 2020 |
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| Location | 2100 E. Beach Boulevard, Gulfport, Mississippi, United States of America |
| Land area | 5.8 acres (2.3 ha) |
| Coordinates | 30°22′4″N 89°5′18″W / 30.36778°N 89.08833°W |
| No. of species | >200 species of fish and other animals plus 50 species of native plants |
| Total volume of tanks | over 1 million US gallons (3,800 m3) of saltwater and freshwater |
| Major exhibits | 12 |
The Mississippi Aquarium is a fun place to visit in Gulfport, Mississippi. It is a public aquarium that opened on August 29, 2020. This aquarium is a nonprofit group. This means it uses any money it earns to help the aquarium grow and care for its animals.
The aquarium covers about 5.8 acres. It has both indoor and outdoor areas for animals. You can see over 200 different kinds of animals here. There are also more than 50 types of plants that grow naturally in Mississippi. The money to build this amazing place came from different groups. These included the government and private donations.
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Building the Mississippi Aquarium
Work on the Mississippi Aquarium started on May 11, 2018. The main design for the aquarium was done by Eley Guild Hardy Architects. They are from Biloxi. Other companies also helped with the design and engineering.
Building the aquarium cost about $93 million. This money covered buying the land, designing the buildings, and all the construction. Most of the money, about 90%, came from public sources. These included the City of Gulfport and the State of Mississippi. Grants from the RESTORE Act also helped. The rest of the money, about 10%, came from private donations. These donations were made through the Mississippi Aquarium Foundation.
What Can You See at the Aquarium?
When you arrive at the Mississippi Aquarium, you will notice three sail-like shapes. These shapes are also part of the aquarium's logo. The aquarium has many cool exhibits to explore.
Exciting Animal Habitats
The aquarium is home to many different animals. You can see habitats for:
- Alligators
- River fish
- North American river otters
- Bottlenose dolphins
- Birds in an aviary
Unique Visitor Experiences
The aquarium offers special ways to interact with the exhibits:
- Walk through a 360-degree clear tunnel under the water.
- See a Bait ball habitat, where many fish swim together.
- Learn about bottom dwellers, which are animals living on the ocean floor.
- Touch some invertebrates, like sea stars.
- Get close to sharks and rays.
- Explore the Gulf Community habitat, showing animals from the nearby Gulf of Mexico.
Native Plants and Pathways
As you walk around the aquarium, you will find beautiful paths. These paths are lined with plants native to Mississippi. These plants come from seven different natural areas of the state. It's a great way to see local plant life.
See also
