Sea Life at Mall of America
Shark tunnel at the aquarium
44°51′15″N 93°14′32″W / 44.85417°N 93.24222°W / 44.85417; -93.24222
Date opened1996
LocationMall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota, United States
Land area70,000 square feet (6,500 m2)
No. of animals10,000+[1]
Volume of largest tank500,000 US gallons (1,900,000 L)[1]
Total volume of tanks1.3 million US gallons (4,900,000 L)[1]
Public transit accessBus interchange Metro Transit
Bus interchange MVTA
Light rail interchange  Blue 
Websitewww.visitsealife.com/Minnesota

Sea Life at Mall of America (formally known as Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium) is a public aquarium located in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, United States. The 1.3 million-US-gallon (4.9 ML) aquarium contains thousands of aquatic creatures, including sea turtles, sharks, sawfish, stingrays, jellyfish and seahorses. There are eleven exhibits featured at the aquarium. The aquarium is highlighted by a 300-foot (91 m) 360° clear acrylic tunnel, which consists of four different areas housing both freshwater and salt water creatures.[2]

History

The aquarium at the Mall of America was opened in 1996 under the name UnderWater World after 18 months of construction. In 2000, the re-opening of the aquarium changed its name to Underwater Adventures Aquarium. In 2008, the aquarium became a part of British-based Merlin Entertainments group of attractions, and was rebranded as a Sea Life Centre in March 2011.

In the summer of 2009, the aquarium debuted the exhibit Seahorse Kingdom.

In March 2010, Jellyfish Discovery was opened as the largest jellyfish exhibit worldwide.

In March 2011, SeaLife officially completed the transition to a Merlin Entertainments' Sea Life Centre, and was renamed Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium. The re-brand featured updated theming throughout the aquarium and many new exhibits.

Exhibits

Brave the Rainforest[3] features multiple pop up tanks to allow visitors to get closer to the creatures and a Ranger Stage with extra facts and animals. The rainforest features spectacled caiman, poison dart frogs, piranhas, freshwater angelfish and other exotic species.

The Tunnel,[2] a 300-foot (91 m) 360° acrylic tunnel that goes through four exhibits: Sturgeon Lake, Wild Amazon, Shark Cove and Rainbow Reef.

The Coral Caves[4] hold live coral and fish such as clownfish and regal blue tang.

Seahorse Kingdom[5] features seahorses.

Jellyfish Discovery[5] features moon jellyfish.

Ray Lagoon[6] features a ray pool full of cownose stingray, Atlantic stingray, southern stingray, shovelnose guitarfish and other rays.

Pacific Northwest Rockpool[7] features a touch pool full of assorted anemone, sea stars, sea urchins, and prawns.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "What's Inside". visitsealife.com. Merlin Entertainments (Sea Life) Limited. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Tunnel Exhibit". visitsealife.com. Merlin Entertainments (Sea Life) Limited. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  3. "Rainforest Exhibit". visitsealife.com. Merlin Entertainments (Sea Life) Limited. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  4. "Coral Caves Exhibit". visitsealife.com. Merlin Entertainments (Sea Life) Limited. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Explore Exhibits". visitsealife.com. Merlin Entertainments (Sea Life) Limited. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  6. "Ray Lagoon Exhibit". visitsealife.com. Merlin Entertainments (Sea Life) Limited. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  7. "Pacific Northwest Rockpool Exhibit". visitsealife.com. Merlin Entertainments (Sea Life) Limited. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
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