ArchiveXYZ: OCEANARIUM

The Lisbon Oceanarium opened to the public in 1998, during the World Exhibition of Lisbon. The old Vasco da Gama Aquarium still exists (since 1898) and is still a valuable alive window to the knowledge of marine life. Oceanarium is located at Park of the Nations and has much bigger dimensions.

The central aquarium has around five million liters of water, representing the “global ocean” populated by more than one hundred species coming from the four main oceans. Observing this main aquarium one has the impression of being under the sea and walking among all those beings. All so different, they coexist harmoniously, move like dancers and beholders of beauty. Just a few inches from our hands is the shark, that doesn’t bite, the moonfish in constant orbit around the oceans, the white shoals that seen from the distance seem snowflakes drawing paths in the water. And here and there pass colourful small fishes that add glimpses of rainbow to the immense blue.

There are also amphibians, birds and fishes from rivers and lakes in habitats that simulate the original, in shapes, colours and even temperature. In the penguins corner is really cold; in the tropical corner there’s a small rainforest and the water vapor mixes with heat waves and fill the air with a mysterious fog.

Since February 2015, it’s growing an underwater forest conceived by Takashi Amano in a set of linked aquariums around a large room. This forest will grow there for the next three years. That will be the subject for another post.

OCEANÁRIO DE LISBOA - http://www.oceanario.pt/