Sea Life London Aquarium facts for kids
The London Sea Life Aquarium
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| Date opened | March 1997 (22 years and 9 months ago) |
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| Location | London, England |
| Coordinates | 51°30′7″N 0°7′8″W / 51.50194°N 0.11889°W |
| No. of species | ~500 |
| Total volume of tanks | More than 2,000,000 litres (440,000 imp gal; 530,000 US gal) |
| Annual visitors | 1,000,000 |
| Memberships | BIAZA |
| Website | www.sealife.co.uk/london |
The Sea Life London Aquarium is a cool place to explore underwater worlds. It is located in central London, England. You can find it on the South Bank of the River Thames, right next to the famous London Eye.
This amazing aquarium first opened its doors in March 1997. Back then, it was simply called the London Aquarium. Today, about one million people visit it every year to see its incredible sea creatures!
Contents
History of the Aquarium
The Sea Life London Aquarium has an interesting past. It has changed and grown a lot over the years.
Robot Fish and New Owners
In 2005, something really unique happened. The aquarium showed off three special robotic fish! These robots were made by smart people at the University of Essex. They could swim around by themselves and even avoid bumping into things, just like real fish. Their creator wanted them to be as fast as a tuna and as good at moving as an eel.
In April 2008, a company called Merlin Entertainments bought the aquarium. They decided to make it even better!
Big Changes and New Exhibits
The aquarium closed for a while to get a huge makeover. This big update cost about £5 million! When it reopened in April 2009, it was officially named a Sea Life Centre.
Many exciting new things were added during this time. Visitors could now walk through a cool underwater tunnel. There was also a "Shark Walk" where you could see sharks swimming all around you. The big Pacific Ocean tank was also made new and improved.
Penguins and New Location
In May 2011, the aquarium welcomed some adorable new residents. Ten gentoo penguins moved in from the Edinburgh Zoo! They quickly became a favorite for visitors.
Later, in 2015, the aquarium moved to a slightly different spot within County Hall. This happened because a new attraction, Shrek's Adventure! London, was opening up.
Helping Sea Animals and Learning
The Sea Life London Aquarium is not just a fun place to visit. It also works hard to protect ocean animals and teach people about them.
Classrooms and Conservation
The aquarium has two special classrooms. These rooms are designed around important campaigns to help save sea life. Each year, up to 40,000 school children visit these classrooms to learn. When schools are not using them, everyone can explore these educational spaces.
Breeding Programs and Partnerships
The aquarium is involved in many programs to help animals have babies. This helps increase the numbers of important species. Some of the animals they help breed include Cuban crocodiles, seahorses, and jellyfish.
They also work with many groups that protect the ocean. These include the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, Save Our Seas, and Shark Trust. Their goal is to make sure our oceans and the animals in them stay healthy.
Images for kids
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The underwater tunnel.
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The shark walk.
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