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Everything you need to know about Georgia Aquarium and its marine life

Georgia Aquarium is home to thousands of marine species and is the only aquarium in the US where you can see whale sharks. It offers several exhibits, educational programs, and hands-on, immersive experiences where you can interact with aquatic an...

Founded On

2005

Founded By

Bernie Marcus

About

Quick Information

ADDRESS

225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA

RECOMMENDED DURATION

4 hours

Timings

09:00–17:00

VISITORS PER YEAR

2500000

TICKETS

From $ 47.90

NUMBER OF ENTRANCES

EXPECTED WAIT TIME - SKIP THE LINE

0-30 mins (Peak), 0-30 mins (Off Peak)

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Did you know?

Georgia Aquarium took less than half the time it normally takes to build something of this scale. The construction took only 2.5 years to complete, done by a team of experts from around the world.

It opened at 500,000 sq. ft. in size and has already expanded multiple times since then. Currently, it measures over 600,000 sq. ft., holds over 11 million gallons of both saltwater and freshwater and is home to around 100,000 animals from diverse ecosystems.

It recycles nearly 99% of its exhibit water using a treatment and reclamation system with minimal losses to evaporation and protein skimmers that are used to remove waste and oxygenate water.

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Georgia Aquarium is one of the largest and most impressive aquariums in the world, right from its architecture to the diversity of marine life it houses. The habitats include saltwater and freshwater ecosystems, a tropical coral reef, and sub-arctic temperatures, to name a few. It’s also the only aquarium where you can see whale sharks up close. From engaging exhibits and shows to immersive experiences with the animals, here’s all you need to know about Georgia Aquarium before you visit.

Highlights at Georgia Aquarium

As you explore Georgia Aquarium, you'll get to encounter a diverse collection of aquatic animals from around the world living in different ecosystems. The aquarium is the only place in the world where you can see whale sharks, the largest fish in the sea. These gentle giants share their habitat with manta rays and thousands of other fish in the Ocean Voyager exhibit. Learn about other featured marine animals including beluga whales, sea otters, African penguins, California sea lions, the bottlenose dolphin, tiger sharks, and a number of other fascinating creatures living in their meticulously designed habitats.

Meet the animals of Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium | Exhibits, shows, and experiences

Aquanaut Adventure

Explore fresh waters, marine habitats, and the extreme conditions that some animals thrive in at the Aquanaut Adventure: A Discovery Zone. Ideal for parents and children, this expedition offers a learning experience across multiple habitats.

Featured species: Motoro ray, electric eel, American alligator, Baja blue rock lizard, poison dart frogs, mourning geckos.

Location: Level 2

Cold Water Quest

With the iciest waters in zones reaching sub-arctic temperatures, the Cold Water Quest gallery is full of life. The exhibits are created keeping the animals’ habitats in mind, with nesting regions for African penguins that are integrated into the rockwork of the gallery, lighting systems to mimic the natural light cycle, and ideal temperatures for beluga whales to thrive in. Cold Water Quest is also home to a kelp forest and animals like Japanese spider crabs, Australian weedy sea dragons, sea otters, and many more.

Featured species: Beluga whales, African penguins, sea otters, California sheephead, giant Pacific octopus, harbor seals, Japanese spider crabs, horned puffin

Featured exhibits and experiences: Sea otter encounter, Penguin encounter, crawl tunnel viewing windows, kelp forest

Location: Level 1

Dolphin Coast

Say hello to the common bottlenose dolphins over at Dolphin Coast in the Dolphin Coast lobby, or watch an interactive show in the Dolphin Theater. The dolphin presentation is filled with educational facts about the species, and you get to witness a live training demonstration with these playful and intelligent animals. Get to the show early because it fills up pretty fast, and seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Featured species: Common bottlenose dolphins, roseate spoonbill, scarlet ibis

Featured exhibits and experiences: Dolphin encounter, dolphin show, and presentation

Location: Level 1

Explorers Cove

Explorers Cove is the latest addition to the Georgia Aquarium galleries and it gives visitors a chance to look at how three different coastal biomes function; an estuary, a salt marsh, and a coastal ocean. You can also use the immersive technology at the gallery to create digital animal species of your own and watch them interact with their environment. The touch pools offer you a chance to experience the environment in its true essence and engage with sturgeons and rays. It’s a great way to get children to interact with and learn more about the diverse coastal ecosystems.

Featured species: Cownose ray, lake sturgeon

Featured exhibits and experiences: Touch pools, immersive digital art

Location: Level 1

Ocean Voyager

Ocean Voyager is probably the most well-known gallery at the Georgia Aquarium. You can see the whale sharks up close and engage in experiences to interact with them. Besides being home to the largest fish species in the world, the Ocean Voyager exhibits also feature stingrays, the goliath grouper, the blacktip reef shark, and more. You can walk through the 100-foot-long underwater tunnel or see these marine creatures through some of the largest viewing windows in the world.

Featured species: Whale sharks, stingrays, giant grouper, goliath grouper, green sea turtle, blacktip reef shark

Featured exhibits and experiences: Dive with Gentle Giants, Swim with Gentle Giants

Location: Level 1

SHARKS! Predators of the Deep

Step into one of North America's largest and most immersive shark exhibits. SHARKS! aims to create a new perspective on how we see these misunderstood animals. They play a vital role in maintaining the health of our oceans. Learn about the challenges they face, like overfishing and habitat loss. View them from floor-to-ceiling acrylic viewing windows and experience the marvel up close.

Featured species: Great hammerhead sharks, silvertip sharks, tiger sharks, false pilchard

Featured exhibits and experiences: Shark & Ray Interaction

Location: Level 1

River Scout

Explore Georgia Aquarium’s only freshwater gallery with waterfalls, logjams, and a flowing overhead river. See several diverse freshwater species from around the world, including alligator snapping turtles, archerfish, and Asian small-clawed otters. You can safely surround yourself with piranhas or get a close-up look at their sharp teeth.

Featured species: Asian small-clawed otter, black spot piranhas, African tigerfish, fire eels, red piranhas, giant puffer

Featured exhibits and experiences: Sea lion encounter, Dolphin encounter, Shark & Ray interaction

Location: Level 2

Tropical Diver

Enter Tropical Diver to see marine life thriving in a tropical Pacific reef, with living corals, waves, and thousands of colorful fish. You’ll see garden eels, seahorses, and the famous clownfish. The gallery also has three jelly exhibits. It’s one of the largest living reef exhibits in the world with a close-up view of life that exists beneath the waves.

Featured species: Hard coral, soft coral, blue-spotted stingray, Foxface rabbitfish, green moray eel, moon jelly, Pacific sea nettle, peacock mantis shrimp

Featured exhibits and experiences: Sleep Under the Sea

Location: Level 1

Trust Pier 225

Meet California sea lions up close at Truist Pier 225. Watch the Under the Boardwalk presentation to witness trainers interact with these playful and social animals while they share insights about the challenges sea lions face in the wild. The gallery takes you to the California coast and offers a learning experience about the environmental factors affecting sea lion populations today.

Featured species: California sea lions

Featured exhibits and experiences: Sea lion encounter and presentation, arcade games, interactive photo kiosk

Location: Level 1

More details on Georgia Aquarium's exhibits

Georgia Aquarium research and conservation

Georgia Aquarium also doubles as a scientific and research institution focused on advancing aquatic animal conservation and research. They have a state-of-the-art animal health facility, The Correll Center for Aquatic Animal Health, to help with research on improving animal care and develop innovative exhibits.

Georgia Aquarium also has a Class R research license, which is the highest standard for ethical animal research. The One Ocean, One Health initiative emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental well-being to create a sustainable world for all life.

The focus for conservation and research is on whale sharks, beluga whales, sea lions, African penguins, and coral. All efforts are to find and implement advanced solutions in veterinary medicine and marine conservation efforts.

Frequently asked questions about Georgia Aquarium

What makes Georgia Aquarium unique?

Georgia Aquarium is one of the two aquariums in the world where you can see whale sharks up close. It also features one of the most immersive shark exhibits in North America, and diverse marine habitats ranging from tropical coral reefs to icy Arctic waters.

How long does it take to explore Georgia Aquarium?

Most visitors spend about 3 to 4 hours exploring the exhibits, but you can easily spend the whole day if you attend the animal encounters, shows, and interactive experiences.

What types of animals can I see at Georgia Aquarium?

The aquarium is home to thousands of marine animals, including whale sharks, beluga whales, sea otters, African penguins, bottlenose dolphins, manta rays, and various species of sharks, jellyfish, and freshwater fish.

Can I interact with animals at Georgia Aquarium?

Yes! You can participate in unique experiences like swimming or diving with whale sharks, touching stingrays, and encountering dolphins, sea otters, and penguins up close.

What is the best time to visit the Georgia Aquarium?

Weekdays, especially mornings, tend to be less crowded than weekends. To avoid the biggest crowds, plan your visit during off-peak seasons like late fall or early spring.

Does Georgia Aquarium have experiences for children?

Yes, the aquarium offers interactive exhibits, touch pools, and engaging educational programs that make it a fun experience for children of all ages.

What is the biggest tank at Georgia Aquarium?

The Ocean Voyager exhibit houses the largest tank, with over 6.3 million gallons of water. It is home to whale sharks, manta rays, and thousands of other fish.

Does Georgia Aquarium participate in conservation efforts?

Georgia Aquarium is dedicated to marine conservation, research, and education, focusing on species like whale sharks, beluga whales, and African penguins.