National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium

National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium
國立海洋生物博物館
Established 25 February 2000
Location 2 Houwan Rd.
Checheng, Pingtung County, Taiwan[1]
Coordinates 22°02′47″N 120°41′52″E / 22.046485°N 120.697678°ECoordinates: 22°02′47″N 120°41′52″E / 22.046485°N 120.697678°E
Website www.nmmba.gov.tw (English)

The National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium (NMMBA; Chinese: 國立海洋生物博物館; pinyin: Guólì Hǎiyáng Shēngwù Bówùguǎn) is an aquarium located on the southern coast of Taiwan near Kenting (northwest of Kenting National Park) in Checheng Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan.

Ticket counters for the museum.
The Penguin Tank

Overview

Planning for the museum began in 1991, and the museum itself was opened on February 25, 2000.[2] In addition to the museum, the park surrounding the museum is an outdoor water park (the largest in Taiwan).[1]

The total area of the park is 96.81 hectares (968,100 m2), while the museum itself covers 35.81 hectares (358,100 m2). The museum has three main exhibits: Waters of Taiwan, Coral Kingdom Pavilion and World Waters Pavilion.[2] The building also has several major divisions including the experiment center for aquatic life, public facilities, research facilities, maintenance facilities, an international conference center, and an academic research center.

The museum also has an 81-meter underwater moving track, the largest underwater tunnel in Asia.[2]

Exhibitions

The museum has three main exhibitions:[3]

Waters of Taiwan

The Kelp Forest Tank at the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium

This exhibit hall features aquatic animals native to Taiwan, from waters as small as rivers to as vast as the open sea. The exhibits are themed after the water systems of Taiwan, starting from the river and the reservoir to the intertidal zone and finally to the open sea. There is also a touch pool featuring marine invertebrates in the intertidal exhibit area. Animals on display include tilapia, Japanese eel, trout, cuttlefish, nurse sharks, Indo-Pacific tarpon, yellowfin tuna, spotted eagle rays, and a whale shark.[4] The main ocean tanks contains 5,700,000 l (1,500,000 US gal) of sea water, has a 16.5 m × 4.85 m (54.1 ft × 15.9 ft) acrylic viewing window and an 80-metre (260 ft) shark tunnel.[5]

Coral Kingdom

The Coral Kingdom exhibit hall shows different coral reef habitats, from shallow waters to deep oceans. Differing environments based on sea depth, pressure, terrain, and light are shown. An underwater tunnels and a sunken ship are also part of the exhibit hall. At the end of exhibit hall is an underwater tunnel and viewing panels showcasing the aquarium's four beluga whales. It is also possible to see the belugas from above water via a pavilion on the second floor. Animals on display include blacktip reef sharks, lionfish, moray eels, cownose rays, unicornfish, butterflyfish, garden eels, and beluga whales.[6]

Waters of the World

This exhibit covers ancient, Precambrian oceans as well as ocean formation. It covers the history of oceans from several hundred million years ago to today.[7]

Research

Besides public exhibition, there is a group of scientists that carry out scientific research in the museum. There are two research buildings and a marine station in the museum, dedicated to the research in marine biology and ecology, aquaculture, propagation and conservation of marine fauna and flora.

　In 1997, the museum also provides help to other governmental divisions in dealing with endangered or threatened aquatic animals, and the rescue of grounded dolphins and whales. This is the largest marine biology research unit in Taiwan, working together with other universities and research institutes both in Taiwan and worldwide through joint programs.

　The joint establishment of two institutes with National Dong Hwa University in 2005, the Institute of Marine Biodiversity and Evolution, and Institute of Marine Biotechnology, is to enhance the development of marine sciences and biotechnology, and nurture the talented persons in those fields. The "Innovation Incubation Center" created in 2006 further advances us to the business world of international marine biotechnology and provides us with further opportunity in the area.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Taiwan's largest outdoor water park ‘cooling’". The China Post. 2003-08-18. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "History". NMMBA.org. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  3. ↑ "Exhibition and display description". NMMBA.org. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  4. ↑ "Waters of Taiwan". NMMBA.org. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  5. ↑ "National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium". internations.org. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "Coral Reef Previews". NMMBA.org. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  7. ↑ "Waters of the World". NMMBA.org. Retrieved 2010-07-19.

External links