Florida Aquarium

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Exterior of the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, Florida with passing streetcar
Exterior of the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, Florida with passing streetcar
Inside the atrium of the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, Florida.
Inside the atrium of the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, Florida.

The Florida Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, publicly operated institution located in Tampa, Florida. It is a large scale, 250,000 square foot aquarium and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The facility is home to more than 20,000 aquatic plants and animals from Florida and all over the world. The facility is located in the Channel District of Downtown Tampa. The Florida Aquarium opened in March of 1995 as a privately funded entity, and became a public-private partnership when the city of Tampa assumed responsibility for its debt in 1999.

The Florida Aquarium's exhibits are laid out to show the journey of a drop of water from one of Florida's many fresh-water springs out to the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Exhibits include a large simulated swamp / river area located under a tall glass atrium, a simulated beach, and a coral reef community housed in a 500,000 gallon tank. Its mission is to "entertain, education and inspire stewardship of the natural environment."

The aquarium hosted a record number of visitors (675,000) in 2007 and also had its best year financially. In response, the aquarium plans expansions over several phases for the future. [1]


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[edit] References

  1. ^ Florida Aquarium turns record attendance into expansion plans - Tampa Bay Business Journal:
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