The Deep (aquarium) facts for kids
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| Date opened | 2002 |
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| Location | Hull, England |
| Coordinates | 53°44′19″N 0°19′50″W / 53.73861°N 0.33056°W |
| No. of animals | 3,500+ |
| Volume of largest tank | 2,500,000 litres (550,000 imp gal; 660,000 US gal) |
| Memberships | BIAZA |
The Deep is a super cool public aquarium located in Hull, England. It sits right where the River Hull meets the Humber Estuary. This amazing place first opened its doors in March 2002.
It's often called "the world's only submarium." This means it's like an aquarium but even more immersive! Inside, you'll find thousands of sea creatures. This includes seven different kinds of sharks! The tanks hold a massive 2.5 million litres of water. That's a lot of water! The building itself was designed by a famous architect, Sir Terry Farrell. It was built with help from the UK National Lottery.
The Deep is also a special place for marine research. A team of experts called aquarists take care of all the animals. They also study the ocean environment. In 2013, The Deep was voted the best family place to visit in Hull. It's a charity that wants everyone to enjoy and understand our world's oceans.
The Deep's History: From Forts to Fish
The land where The Deep stands is called Sammy's Point. It has a long history, going back to the 1500s. Back then, Hull Castle was built on part of this spot. Later, in 1681, a new fort called The Citadel was built there.
In 1850, when the Victoria Dock was being built, workers dug up a lot of mud. This mud was used to create more land along the river. That's the land The Deep is on today! Sammy's Point got its name from Martin Samuelson. He built a shipyard there in 1857. Over the years, different ship companies owned the land. Later, it became a buoy depot but was left empty in the 1980s.
About half of the money to build The Deep came from the Millennium Commission. Other groups helped with the rest of the £52.285 million needed. The building was designed by Sir Terry Farrell. It took 17 months to build and was finished in 2001.
The aquarium opened to visitors in 2002. Since then, over eight million people have explored its wonders! In 2013, it was voted the best family attraction in Hull. The Deep has even hosted special events. For example, the draw for the FA Cup football competition happened there in 2014. Also, in 2017, cool light projections were shown on The Deep as part of the Hull UK City of Culture event.
Exploring The Deep's Amazing Exhibits
The Deep uses many ways to tell the story of our oceans. You'll find hands-on activities and cool videos. There are also many living exhibits with real animals. The museum takes you on a journey through time. You learn about the oceans from the very beginning until today. There's even a fun area where you can try to control an underwater diving vehicle!
Some of the amazing exhibits include:
- Tropical Lagoon of Light: This tank is full of bright, colourful tropical fish and rays.
- Endless Oceans: This huge tank is 10 metres (about 33 feet) deep. It holds 2.5 million litres of water!
- Europe's Deepest Viewing Tunnel: You can walk through a 9-metre (about 30 feet) deep tunnel. Sharks, rays, and many other fish swim all around you!
- Glass Lift: Ride a special glass lift right through the main tank. It's an incredible view!
This main tank is home to sharks, rays, and even northern Europe's only pair of green sawfish. Divers feed the sharks and rays every day in a special show. Other cool sea creatures you might see include fish that glow in the dark, colourful coral, turtles, jellyfish, and even penguins! There's also an area showing an Amazon flooded forest with frogs and insects.
Learning and Fun at The Deep
The Deep has a fantastic education program. About 30,000 students from primary and secondary schools visit each year. They learn about important topics like food chains in the ocean. They also learn how to care for the marine environment. Other lessons cover predator-prey relationships, how animals adapt, and different ocean habitats. The Deep also hosts fun group sleepovers. Plus, they have many special events throughout the year!
