Portland Aquarium
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| Date opened | December 15, 2012 |
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| Location | 16323 SE McLoughlin, Oak Grove, Oregon, United States |
| Coordinates | 45°24′18″N 122°37′26″W / 45.405°N 122.624°WCoordinates: 45°24′18″N 122°37′26″W / 45.405°N 122.624°W |
| Land area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Floor space | 12,500 sq ft (1,160 m2)[1] |
| Number of species | 2,500 |
| Website | portlandaquarium.net |
The Portland Aquarium is an 12,500-square-foot (1,160 m2) privately owned aquarium in Oak Grove, Oregon, United States that opened to the public on December 15, 2012.[2]
History
The Portland Aquarium is a private, for-profit aquarium built with funding provided by an investment group. The for-profit model was chosen (instead of a nonprofit organization) to allow the aquarium to be built quickly. The aquarium was constructed in a leased former steakhouse in Oak Grove. It was initially proposed to be called the "Oregon Aquarium."[3]
The Portland Aquarium is owned by Vince Covino, who also operate the Idaho Aquarium in Boise and the Austin Aquarium in Texas.[4]
Features
The Portland Aquarium features 30 exhibits displaying more than 2,500 species.[2] Animals exhibited include sharks and stingrays, a jellyfish exhibit, a cold water tank with fish found off the Oregon Coast, and warm water tanks and tide pools with tropical fish.[5] In addition to aquatic and marine exhibits, the aquarium includes a rainforest room with animals like tree frogs and exotic birds.[6] The Portland Aquarium is intended to be a “hands-on” educational experience that will provide ample opportunity to pet and feed aquarium animals. Most exhibits will be geared toward children about age 10.[3] The aquarium is located on a two-acre site that is zoned to permit the aquarium to build outdoor exhibits in the future.[5] Proposed future exhibits include a 30,000-gallon shark tank and a seal exhibit. [7]
Controversies
Co-owner of the Portland Aquarium, Ammon Covino, was arrested on Feb 21, 2013 in Boise, ID on charges of illegally harvesting marine animals. [8]
Notes
- ↑ "Aquarium brings the ocean to town". portlandtribune.com. Pamplin Media Group. November 20, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Culverwell, Wendy (November 29, 2012). "Portland Aquarium opens Dec. 15". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Harbarger, Molly (July 15, 2012). "Idaho brothers eye Clackamas County site for potential children's aquarium". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
- ↑ Drake, Sarah (6 June 2013). "Portland, Boise aquarium owners bringing one to Austin". Austin Business Journal (Austin). Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Harbarger, Molly (August 14, 2012). "Oregon Aquarium bringing puffins, hands-on exhibits to SE McLoughlin site". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
- ↑ Cheesman, Shannon (August 30, 2012). "Old Black Angus restaurant is being turned into an aquarium". KATU. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
- ↑ Vondersmith, Jason (December 6, 2012). "Brothers hope new aquarium lures families". Portland Tribune. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ↑ Edwards, Victoria (February 21, 2013). "Portland Aquarium co-owner accused of illegally harvesting marine animals for Boise facility". The Oregonian. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
External links
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