The National Aquarium In Baltimore: An Educational Experience For Everyone

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Did you know that the frog species were the first animals with vocal cords? Did you know that seahorses are actually fish not little serpents or mermaids as legend tells us, and that it is the male who becomes pregnant, not the female? Did you know that an area of a rainforest the size of a football field is being destroyed each second? If not, then you should definitively consider making a visit to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Dramatic architecture and bright outdoor graphics invite you to investigate further this jewel of the city's vital Inner Harbor area. One of the world's largest and most sophisticated aquatic museums, the city's premier tourist attraction re-creates habitats from all over the world to house more than 15,000 sea creatures in over two million gallons of water. Its glass-and-steel pyramid shape is as unusual and stunning as the diverse sea creatures it houses. Most of the exhibits in the aquarium are part of a self-guided tour, so you can learn at your own pace. By using dramatic video, interactive displays and hi-tech graphics to assist you in your tour, the Aquarium not only introduces you to these special little creatures, but also inspires and intrigues you to want to learn even more. Whatever your interests, the National Aquarium provides a fun and educational visit for all! Upon entering the facility, you are treated to a 35-foot high waterfall, modeled from an actual waterfall in a Maryland state park. At its base, the moss-covered rocks, freshwater fish, and native species of frogs and turtles invite you to continue your reflection on the diversity of Maryland. Upon entering the lobby, you first notice 16 gurgling "bubble tubes," a just for fun introduction to the world of water. Children gravitate to the floor-to-ceiling tubes, dart between them, hug them, and listen to them. Embarking on the "one-way-street" route through the Main Aquarium Building, you first look down upon Wings in the Water, the world's largest collection of stingrays, silently and gracefully swimming among several species of small sharks. While we were there, several volunteers entered the 265,000-gallon pool to feed them. Volunteers, you say? Yes. Volunteers are essential to the operations at the aquarium. Over 600 volunteers greet the more than 1.5 million yearly visitors to share their enthusiasm and knowledge about the conservation and ecological benefits of our oceans, and the wonderful creatures who call these waters home.

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