Believe it or not, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada has officially opened its doors as the country’s largest indoor aquarium.
The aquarium by the brand best known for its “Believe It or Not” oddities is a new underwater adventure for Toronto, boasting one of the world’s most extensive jellyfish exhibits and the largest shark collection in North America.
Opened on October 16, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is now home to 16,000 marine animals over 450 species from around the world. Add to that tropical reef exhibits, an interactive Discover Centre and a grand total of 1.5 million gallons of water, and you have an aquatic experience you won’t want to miss the next time you’re in Toronto.
Without a doubt, the crown jewel of Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is Dangerous Lagoon, home to sea turtles, eels, sawfish and 17 sharks. Visitors can experience the aquarium’s largest tank (an impressive 766,099 gallons) by the moving sidewalk that takes guests through an underground tunnel through the tank, where you can watch as sharks and sea turtles swim overhead.
Within Dangerous Lagoon is Grouper Grotto, another must-see exhibit with its magnificent Goliath and Giant Groupers.
The Waters of the World exhibit is another eye-catcher, thanks to its tank-within-a-tank setup. The double exhibit features a saltwater tank filled with triggerfish and angelfish within a freshwater tank with African cichlids.
For a look at the local natives, don’t miss the special Canadian Waters Gallery, home to 17 tanks of aquatic creatures from Canada’s own backyard. Exhibits include century-old lobsters, a sea star shelf, an anemone wall and American eels.
And for the adrenaline-seekers who can’t wait to sneak a peak of the ocean’s most feared predator, don’t miss Ripley’s Shark Reef. Here, you’ll see blacktip, whitetip, zebra and woebegone sharks up close thanks to the tank’s crawl-through tunnel.
This family-friendly aquarium also features more than 100 interactive exhibits the entire family can enjoy, including a tsunami simulator, touch pools and learning centers.
For more information, check out the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada website.
(All images courtesy of Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada)
