‘An ocean on water’ is probably a very apt description for the Lisbon Oceanarium, which is located right at the mouth of the Tagus in Lisbon. It was built as one of the centrepieces of the 1998 World’s Fair. With over 30 pools containing a total of over 7,000 cubic metres of water, it is the largest indoor aquarium in Europe. It is home to more than 15,000 animals and plants from around 450 different species.
Huge panoramic windows give visitors a fascinating insight into the world of the oceans. In the central tank of the oceanarium, in addition to sharks, large rays and spider crabs, several giant moonfish can be found. This species of fish can reach a length of more than three metres and a weight of over two tonnes. Four other aquariums each depict a specific region of the world with its native flora and fauna. There is, for example, an Antarctic area where penguins live on an artificial miniature glacier.
Oceanarium website: https://www.oceanario.pt/en
Photo: Jellyfish can also be found in the huge Lisbon aquarium. Credits: Maksim Shutov/Unsplash
