Located in downtown Toronto at the base of the CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is the country’s largest indoor aquarium. Since opening in October 2013, the 135,000-square-foot attraction has become one of Canada’s premier tourist destinations, housing more than 20,000 aquatic animals representing over 450 species within 5.7 million litres of water.
The aquarium is divided into several immersive habitats, each offering unique experiences and educational opportunities.
Dangerous Lagoon is the aquarium’s signature exhibit, featuring North America’s longest underwater viewing tunnel at 315 feet. Visitors glide along a moving walkway through the massive tank, coming face-to-face with sand tiger sharks, largetooth sawfish, green sea turtles, and a variety of other marine species.
Planet Jellies showcases the beauty of jellyfish in a mesmerizing display that includes the world’s largest kreisel (circular) tank. The exhibit’s colour-changing LED lighting creates a constantly changing backdrop for Pacific sea nettle jellyfish and other delicate species.
The aquarium also offers numerous interactive experiences, with more than 100 hands-on displays throughout the facility. Guests can participate in touch experiences featuring stingrays, horseshoe crabs, and bamboo sharks, providing a closer connection to marine life.
A key feature of the facility is its commitment to conservation and sustainability. The aquarium recycles and purifies approximately 95 to 99 percent of its water, and visitors can view the extensive life-support systems that maintain healthy aquatic environments for the animals.
The Gallery of Canadian Waters highlights species native to Canada’s oceans, lakes, and rivers. Among its residents are giant Pacific octopuses, American lobsters, and numerous fish species found throughout the Great Lakes and Canada’s coastal waters.
Together, these exhibits make Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada one of the most comprehensive and engaging aquatic attractions in North America.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
