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Shedd Aquarium facts for kids

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Shedd Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium 2018.jpg
Entrance in July 2018
Date opened May 30, 1930
Location 1200 South Lake Shore Drive Chicago, Illinois, United States
No. of animals 32,000
No. of species 1,500
Total volume of tanks 5 million US gallons (19,000 m3)
Annual visitors 2.02 Million
Memberships AZA, AMMPA, WAZA
Major exhibits Amazon Rising, Caribbean Reef, Abbott Oceanarium, Polar Play Zone, Waters of the World, Wild Reef
JohnGSheddAquarium
The Shedd Aquarium

The Shedd Aquarium, also known as the John G. Shedd Aquarium, is a huge indoor aquarium. You can find it in Chicago, Illinois, in the U.S.. It first opened its doors on May 30, 1930.

This amazing place is home to over 32,000 animals. It was once the biggest indoor aquarium in the world! That was true until the Georgia Aquarium opened in 2005. The Shedd Aquarium holds a massive 5 million US gallons of water. It was also the very first aquarium far from the ocean to have a permanent collection of saltwater fish. The aquarium is part of Museum Campus Chicago. This area also has the Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum of Natural History.

Discover the Shedd Aquarium

The Shedd Aquarium is a very popular spot. About 2 million people visit it every year! In 2005, it was the most visited aquarium in the U.S. By 2007, it was Chicago's most popular cultural place to visit.

Animals You Can See

The aquarium is home to about 1,500 different kinds of animals. This includes many types of fish. You can also see marine mammals like dolphins and whales. Birds, snakes, amphibians, and even insects live there too.

Amazing Exhibits and Awards

The Shedd Aquarium has won awards for its cool exhibits. These awards come from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

  • In 1999, they won for their "Seahorse Symphony" exhibit.
  • In 2001, they won for "Amazon Rising."
  • In 2004, their "Wild Reef" exhibit also won an award.

Some of the main exhibits you can explore include:

  • Amazon Rising: This exhibit shows you what life is like in the Amazon River.
  • Caribbean Reef: Here you can see colorful fish and corals from the Caribbean Sea.
  • Abbott Oceanarium: This is where you might see beluga whales and dolphins.
  • Polar Play Zone: Discover animals that live in cold, icy places.
  • Waters of the World: This exhibit takes you on a journey to different water habitats around the globe.
  • Wild Reef: This exhibit lets you explore a living coral reef.

Images for kids

  • KM 5866 shedd aquarium august 2007

    Aquarium at dawn

  • Chicago sunrise 1

    Chicago skyline at sunrise, viewed from the east; the Shedd is at left

  • Wild Reef at Shedd Aquarium 2, 2009-11-15

    The wild reef exhibited at the Shedd Aquarium

  • Shedd belugas 2017-09-02

    Belugas swimming in the Abbott Oceanarium

  • Shedd Aquarium S

    The Oceanarium addition

  • Shedd architecture lamp crop 2017-09-02

    Lamp in the main entrance depicting various sea creatures

  • Acuario Shedd, Chicago, Illinois, Estados Unidos, 2012-10-21, DD 06

    Man with Fish statue next to the building

  • Acuario Shedd, Chicago, Illinois, Estados Unidos, 2012-10-21, DD 05

    Main entrance at night

  • Shedd Aquarium Fish Tank

    Cleaning a habitat in the Oceanarium

  • Nick (Sea Turtle)

    Nickel, a Green sea turtle at the aquarium

  • DolphinShedd

    A Pacific white-sided dolphin leaping from the oceanarium during the main dolphin demonstration

  • PenguinsShedd

    Rockhoppers and gentoos at the penguin habitat

  • BelugaShedd

    Two belugas swimming in the oceanarium

  • Awesometurt

    Sea turtle named Nickel

  • Heteroconger at Shedd Aquarium

    Splendid garden eel from the Wild Reef exhibit

  • Shedd Display

    Beauty of the Amazon exhibit

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Shedd Aquarium para niños

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