The National Aquarium in Baltimore (angular building, rear right, and 2005 extension to its left) lies near historic ships in the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore, including USS Torsk and Lightship Chesapeake.

The National Aquarium in Baltimore is a public aquarium located in the historic Inner Harbor area of Baltimore, Maryland. It was opened in 1981 and was constructed during the urban renewal period of Baltimore. The aquarium has an annual attendance of 1.6 million to see its collection of 10,500 specimens of 560 different species. Particular attractions include the dolphin display, rooftop rainforest, and central ray pool, and multiple-story shark tanks. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1177x567, 101 KB)The National Aquarium in Baltimore on a grey day in May 2005. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1177x567, 101 KB)The National Aquarium in Baltimore on a grey day in May 2005. ... The Inner Harbor of Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States, is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and iconic landmark of the city. ... Baltimore skyline at dusk Motto: The Greatest City in America (formerly The City That Reads; BELIEVE is not the official motto but rather a specific campaign) Nickname: Charm City Mob Town B-more Location in Maryland Founded Incorporated 30 July 1729 1797  County Independent city Borough Parrish Mayor Martin J... The USS Torsk (SS-423) is one of several Tench Class submarines still located inside the United States. ... The Lightship Chesapeake, or more officially named Lightship 116, is a National Historic Landmark and part of the Baltimore Maritime Museum. ... A 335,000 U.S. gallon (1. ... The Inner Harbor of Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States, is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and iconic landmark of the city. ... Baltimore skyline at dusk Motto: The Greatest City in America (formerly The City That Reads; BELIEVE is not the official motto but rather a specific campaign) Nickname: Charm City Mob Town B-more Location in Maryland Founded Incorporated 30 July 1729 1797  County Independent city Borough Parrish Mayor Martin J... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Genera See article below. ... The Daintree Rainforest in Queensland, Australia. ... Orders Batoidea - common rays and skates Myliobatiformes - eagle rays, manta rays Pristiformes - sawfishes Torpediniformes - electric rays Rays are a group (superorder Rajomorphii or Batoidea) of cartilaginous fishes. ... Orders Hexanchiformes Squaliformes Pristiophoriformes Squatiniformes Heterodontiformes Orectolobiformes Carcharhiniformes Lamniformes Sharks are a group (superorder Selachimorpha) of fish, with a full cartilaginous skeleton, a streamlined body plan, with normally 5, but up to 7 (depending on species) gill slits along the side of, or beginning slightly behind, the head (in some...

As of 2005, the National Aquarium is the largest tourist attraction in the state of Maryland. The Aquarium is currently undergoing renovation and a multi-million dollar expansion; the expanded portion -- featuring an "Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes" exhibit -- will be 65,400 ft² (6,000 m²) and is scheduled to open on December 16, 2005. 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... State nickname: Old Line State; Free State Official languages None Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Governor Robert L. Ehrlich (R) Senators Paul Sarbanes (D) Barbara Mikulski (D) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 42nd 32,160 km² 21 Population  - Total (2000)  - Density Ranked 19th 5,296,486 165/km² Admission into Union... The Animal Planet Logo Animal Planet, launched in 1996, is a cable television network dedicated to programming that highlights the relationship between animal and man. ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

When the addition opens, visitors can expect to see a glass-enclosed expanded portion of the aquarium and a waterfront park. This park will feature interactive and hands-on activities that will teach visitors about bayscaping, bird-box building, the nationally recognized National Aquarium in Baltimore's Marine Animal Rescue Program, water quality testing, marine debris issues, and wetland restoration.

Inside the expanded portion of the Aquarium directly in the main entrance, there will be a 35-foot (10-m) waterfall that was modeled from an actual waterfall in a Maryland state park. It will be visible from outside the Aquarium. Also inside the expanded portion, there will be a recreation of an Australian habitat. The Umbrawarra Gorge of Australia will be carefully depicted inside the upper portion of the expanded building, and the exhibit will depict lands of fire, drought, and flood. Aboriginal artwork will also be found in the recreation of the gorge and will be based on actual Aboriginal artwork that has been found in Australia. These images will depict aboriginal interpretations of the land that they live on. Hopetoun Falls near Otway National Park, Victoria, Australia A waterfall is usually a geological formation resulting from water, often in the form of a stream flowing over an erosion-resistant rock formation that forms a sudden break in elevation. ...

On October 18, 2004, The Baltimore Sun released a story stating that delays in construction and the complexities of the $66 million expansion could push the opening back into late 2005, missing out on the busiest part of the city's tourism season. The National Aquarium said they experienced a dip in attendance in the Summer 2004, but they expect a 200,000 increase when the expansion is completed. October 18 is the 291st day of the year (292nd in Leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Baltimore Sun is the major newspaper in Baltimore, Maryland, with a daily press run of about 430,000 copies, and a Sunday run of 540,000 copies. ...

On September 14th, 2005, the Baltimore Sun published a story stating that on Sunday, September 11th, 2005, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt visited the National Aquarium with their children and stated that they promise to return to the National Aquarium in December, after the expansion is completed. Source: Sharks are star attraction: Pitt, Jolie visit Charm City - Wednesday, September 14th, 2005 - The Baltimore Sun September 14 is the 257th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (258th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Baltimore Sun is the major newspaper in Baltimore, Maryland, with a daily press run of about 430,000 copies, and a Sunday run of 540,000 copies. ... September 11 is the 254th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (255th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Look up December in Wiktionary, the free dictionary December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ...

December 16, 2005, is the date when the grand opening of the expansion of the aquarium is expected to occur. According to the December 2005 issue of Baltimore magazine, the expansion cost $74.6 million, uses 33,000 square feet of glass and rises 120 feet into the air. According to a Baltimore Sun article dated Friday, December 9, 2005 regarding the expansion, the National Aquarium expects a 400,000-person increase in visitors by the end of 2006 as a result of the expansion and has a goal of bringing in 2 million visitors by 2010. City offcials in the Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Association hopes the increased visitors to the aquarium as a result of the expansion will boost the number of of overnight leisure travelers and businesses at the Baltimore Convention Center, which since its $151 million 1997 expansion hasn't been meeting projections. It will costs visitors more to enter the National Aquarium as well after the expansion opens, the Baltimore Sun also reports that after a grand opening day special for all visitors $7.50 on December 16, 2005, the prices for admission will rise, adults rising from $19.50 to $21.95 and children rising from $13.50 to $14.95. It was also revealed that originally, multiple themes were test-marketed for the expansion before the Austrialian theme was approved, the originial themes were the Florida Everglades, the ring of fire in Thailand, and Arctic birds complete with an iceberg. Lyn Frankel, senior director of marketing at the Aquarium, stated that the expansion is only the beginning of the Aquarium's expansion plans over the next 10 years. City is upbeat on Down Under - The Baltimore Sun - Friday, December 9th, 2005 Look up December in Wiktionary, the free dictionary December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Association (BACVA) is a quasi-public organization started in 1980 by then-Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaffer. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... An Anhinga perched on the boardwalk railing The Florida Everglades is a subtropical marshland located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, specifically in parts of Monroe, Collier, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, and Broward counties. ... The red line indicates the 10°C isotherm in July, commonly used to define the Arctic region border The Arctic is the area around the Earths North Pole. ... An iceberg (berg is the German word for mountain), in German called Eisberg (pronounced the same way as the English iceberg, but -berg with the e like in led) is a large piece of ice that has broken off from a glacier or ice shelf and is floating in open...

The National Aquarium in Baltimore is not to be confused with the National Aquarium in Washington, D.C.. The National Aquarium in Washington, D.C. is the oldest aquarium in the United States. ...

External links

• Official Website of the National Aquarium in Baltimore
• Website about the expansion of the National Aquarium in Baltimore