Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

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Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium logo.png
Touch pool.jpg
Touch pool located at the aquarium.
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
40°31′56″N111°53′38″W / 40.53222°N 111.89389°W / 40.53222; -111.89389
Date openedFebruary 28, 1999
Location Draper, Utah, United States [1]
Floor space136,000 sq ft (12,600 m2)
No. of animals2,484 [2]
No. of species450+
Volume of largest tank300,000 US gallons (1,100,000 L)
Total volume of tanks600,000 US gallons (2,271,000 L) [3]
Annual visitors1 million + [4]
Memberships30,000
Major exhibits74
Website livingplanetaquarium.org

The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is a public aquarium located in Draper, Utah, United States. It houses 4,500 animals representing 550 species, and it consists of five main exhibits.

Contents

History

The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium was founded in 1997 by Brent Andersen, a Utah native and marine biology graduate from the University of California Santa Barbara. [5]

Exhibits

Ocean Explorer

The Ocean Explorer features saltwater species from all over the world, including jellyfish, moray eels, octopus, seahorses, sea turtles, wolf eels, clownfish, lionfish, stingrays, and nine species of shark. Shark species include swellsharks, horn sharks, coral catsharks, epaulette sharks, nurse sharks, zebra sharks, sandbar sharks, blacktip reef sharks, and grey reef sharks. The shark tunnel weighs 26,000 pounds and was lifted through the roof of the aquarium with a crane. The tunnel is made from 3.5 inch thick acrylic. [6]

Antarctic Adventure

Antarctic Adventure immerses guests in a Falkland Islands research station where they meet gentoo penguins. [7]

Journey to South America

The Journey to South America is made to look like a rainforest, and houses animals such as a 14-foot yellow anaconda, piranhas, caiman, corydoras, tarantulas, tree boas, electric eels, and poison dart frogs. The exhibit is meant to educate guests about the biodiversity of rainforest ecosystems, the benefits rainforests provide, and how to help protect rainforest habitats. [8]

Expedition: Asia

Expedition: Asia opened on June 15, 2016. The traveling exhibit features a breeding pair of clouded leopards, three male Asian small-clawed otters, three Asian arowana, a baby Komodo dragon, and many different species of Asian birds, fish, and reptiles, including even Vietnamese white clouds, Nicobar pigeons and common hill mynas. The main feature of Expedition: Asia are the aquarium's two roul-rouls, Roulanda and Raoul. [9]

Rio Tinto Kennecott Plaza

The Rio Tinto Kennecott Plaza was added to the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in 2020. It features the signature VR claw, two playgrounds, and even outdoor habitats for various fish species. [10]

Community outreach

The aquarium's education department currently operates two outreach programs: the Utah Waters Van and the Rainforest Van. [11] [12]

References

  1. ↑ Wadley, Carma (31 May 2009). "Living Planet Aquarium offers a fun-filled educational experience for kids of all ages". Deseret News . Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  2. ↑ "Living Planet Aquarium Exhibits". Archived from the original on 17 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Utah Aquarium Breaks Ground October 24" (PDF). Thelivingplanet.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  4. ↑ Ostergar, Martha (27 March 2015). "Photos: Loveland Living Aquarium". KSL.
  5. ↑ Knudson, Max B. (19 Feb 1998). "Duo set sights on huge Living Planet Aquarium for Utah". Deseret News . Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "Ocean Explorer". Loveland Living Planet Aquarium. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  7. ↑ "Antarctic Adventure". Loveland Living Planet Aquarium. Archived from the original on 24 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  8. ↑ https://livingplanetaquarium.org/animal-habitats/south-america/
  9. ↑ "Expedition: Asia". Loveland Living Planet Aquarium. Archived from the original on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  10. ↑ "New expansion at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, formerly used for major concert tour". 2 July 2020.
  11. ↑ Hayes, Elyse (30 May 2002). "New 'water' vans deliver education to students". Deseret News. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014.
  12. ↑ Campbell, Joel (14 December 1999). "Van Puts Rain Forest In The Classroom". Deseret News. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
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