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Blue Planet Aquarium

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This article is about the aquarium in England. For the Blue Planet aquarium in Denmark, see National Aquarium Denmark.

Aquarium in Cheshire, England
Blue Planet Aquarium
Sand tiger shark at the aquarium
Date opened31 July 1998
LocationEllesmere Port, Cheshire, England
Land area8,000 m (86,000 sq ft)
Volume of largest tank4,000,000 L (1,100,000 US gal)
MembershipsBIAZA
OwnerAspro Parks
Websitewww.blueplanetaquarium.com

The Blue Planet Aquarium is a marine and freshwater aquarium located by the Cheshire Oaks retail and leisure complex in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, England. When opened by the Queen Elizabeth II in July 1998, it was the largest aquarium in the United Kingdom, and is still the largest in North West England. The £12 million building was designed by Manchester-based Buttress Fuller Alsop architects to resemble the shape of a crashing wave. It was built by Cheshire-based developer Deep Sea Leisure (now owned by Aspro Parks), who also built Deep Sea World in North Queensferry, Scotland.

Its stated aim is to "enlighten, increase knowledge and raise interest in the marine environment using an interactive, entertaining and sustainable approach."

Description

The interior houses tanks, pools and submerged tunnels designed to take the visitor through different habitats of the marine environment. The main aquarium tank holds 4,000,000 litres (1,100,000 US gal) and features a 71-metre (233 ft) underwater tunnel. Themed areas include Tropical Rivers, Lakes and Ponds, Where Land Meets the Sea, and Seas and Oceans. The aquarium contains many varieties of marine and freshwater fish, including more types of shark than anywhere else in Britain. It also keeps a variety of mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

Awards

The aquarium's shark dive won the Visit Chester and Cheshire Awards 2010 category for Best Tourism Experience of the Year.

References

  1. ^ Awe, Janet (1 April 1998). "Concrete proves its worth in the age of aquaria". Architects' Journal.
  2. ^ "Six Years of Change: How Funding from the European Union has Helped the North West 1994-1999" (PDF). Government Office North West. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  3. "BIAZA Zoos and Aquariums". biaza.org.uk. BIAZA. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  4. "Blue Planet Aquarium". VisitCheshire.com. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  5. Cheshire & Warrington Tourism Board: Visit Chester and Cheshire: And the winners are Archived June 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine (accessed 17 June 2010)

External links

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