The World’s Largest Aquarium Opens in Singapore

The recently opened S.E.A. Aquarium in Singapore has laid claim to the throne of the biggest water tank there is.

  • Share
  • Read Later
ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images

Guests watch the open ocean habitat, seen through the world's largest viewing panel, at the South East Asia aquarium during a media preview in Singapore on November 20, 2012.

The recently opened S.E.A. Aquarium in Singapore has laid claim to the throne of the biggest water tank in the world. The aquarium, which opened on November 22 of this year, contains over 800 species of marine animals, swimming in almost 12 million gallons of water. Nearly 100,000 animals are spread across its 10 different zones and 49 habitats. It also houses the world’s largest single viewing panel —  approximately 118 feet wide by 27 feet tall.

(MORE: Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium)

The facility is part of Resorts World Sentosa, a massive resort complex on the island of Sentosa located off Singapore’s southern coast. “S.E.A. Aquarium offers not only a stunning display of habitats, but also education and conservation programs in which families and guests can participate,” the aquarium’s senior curator, Grant Willis, explained in a press release. The aquarium offers public interaction with the animals and will continue to play a role in educating the local community, although proposed human-shark interactions are not expected to come until next year. A controversial dolphin exhibit will also not be ready until 2013.

Before, the title for the world’s largest aquarium went to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Ga. The U.S. aquarium, which contains some 10 million gallons of water, opened in 2005 and houses the only whale sharks outside of Asia. The marine institution was funded primarily through a large $250 million donation from Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus.