Atlanta is home to world's largest aquarium

By Aniesa HolmesOctober 30, 2013

usa image
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BENNING, Ga., (Oct. 30, 2013) -- Finding creatures of the deep sea doesn't require scuba gear, but it does require a drive to Atlanta. Named the world's largest aquarium by Guinness World Records, Georgia Aquarium holds more than 10 million gallons of water and features six distinct galleries that depict various aquatic habitats, ranging from arctic to tropical waters.

The SunTrust Georgia Explorer gallery encourages you to get up close with touch pools full of horseshoe crabs, sea stars, stingrays and shrimp. Several large habitats feature a loggerhead sea turtle and the fish of Gray's Reef -- an underwater area off the Georgia coast designated a National Marine Sanctuary.

The Georgia-Pacific Cold Water Quest gives you a rare glimpse into the habitats of African penguins, beluga whales and a family of sea otters.

In the Ocean Voyager gallery by Home Depot, a 100-foot underwater tunnel offers a full view of manta rays, whale sharks and thousands of fish.

AT&T Dolphin Tales is a 30-minute interactive show narrated by the StarSpinner, a mysterious adventurer who leads the way through a journey across the oceans and through an epic battle against sea villains. The dolphins are the stars of the show, entertaining the audience with synchronized flips and turns.

Tropical Diver presented by Southwest offers the magic of coral reefs and diverse homes of the thousands, from moon jellies to yellowbanded sweetlips and garden eels.

Southern Company River Scout gallery, you will discover albino alligators, Asian small-clawed otters, piranha with razor sharp teeth and other animals found in the rivers of Africa, South America, Asia and North America.

For more information about programs, special events and extensive details about each gallery, visit www.georgiaaquarium.org.