As if that weren't enough, in April 2005, the aquarium opened a new expansion which added 650,000 gallons of saltwater exhibits, with ten-foot sharks, fierce barracuda and graceful sting-rays, gliding through an undersea cavern. Other galleries showcase butterflies, cuttlefish, squid, crabs and jellyfish. A lush tropical beach, with 100 feet of "shoreline," gives visitors the opportunity to touch bamboo sharks and sting rays.

If you only see one attraction in Chattanooga, you couldn't make a better choice than the Tennessee Aquarium.

Adjacent to the aquarium is an IMAX theatre with a wrap-around screen five stories high. First-run adventure travelogues are shown here and are not to be missed.

The Tennessee Aquarium and IMax is located downtown on the Riverfront, at the very end of Broad Street.

Hours:
Open daily 10am - 6 pm
Building closes at 7:30pm
Extended summer hours

For the latest information, log on to http://www.tnaqua.com, or call 800/262-0095.

The Tennessee Aquarium, with it's unique architecture, is located in downtown Chattanooga. Chattanooga is home to the largest fresh water aquarium in the world with over 9000 animals. This includes over 500 species of fish, crustaceans, mussels, amphibians, reptiles, birds and one (1) mammal, the river otter.

Each year the Tennessee Aquarium has a special showcase in their "changing gallery" on a distinctive type of animal. This year's feature is on seahorses from different bodies of water throughout the world, entitled "Seahorses Beyond Imagination". Upon entering this exhibit, you see many colorful coral reef displays with seahorses that are indigenous to those areas, such as the Carribean Reef, the Australian Reef and Chesapeake Bay. These displays were mesmerizing as we watched the seahorses change their body color to match their surroundings.

As you wind your way down the four floors, you encounter a living forest under glass; where river otters play in the cold simulated river, and venomous snakes, such as the timber rattler and copperhead, lie in wait for their next meal.

You will visit nine global river regions in the Tennessee Aquarium, from the Amazon to the Volga, some of which showcase the beautiful-but-deadly red-belly piranha to the beluga sturgeon that can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh over 2000 pounds. Stand face to face with a 80 pound catfish or see the astounding largemouth bass, nicknamed "Walter." There are alligator snapping turtles, paddlefish and various species of trout, just to name a few of the freshwater animals you will see.

Amongst all the aquarium's many freshwater displays is one extra large salt water exhibit that contains stringrays, moray eels, sharks, barracudas and a magnificient sea turtle.

At the end of your aquatic adventure be prepared to pass by the ever inviting gift shop where you can purchase momentos from your Chattanooga Aquarium experience!!

The Tennessee Aquarium is educational and fun for people of all ages. It is handicapped accessible and restrooms are located throughout the building. Plan on a minimum of two hours to see and experience these spectacular exhibits. Weekends are extremely busy and there is usually a wait time just to enter into the aquarium. When planning a trip to Chattanooga, this stop should be at the top of your list.

Some helpful web sites for the Tennessee Aquarium are: www.tnaqua.org or www.chattanoogafun.com