Seattle has much to surprise its visitors and one of these attractions is Seattle Aquarium. Seattle Aquarium was built in 1977 by the City of Seattle on Pier 59. As a nationally recognized aquatic educational center, it provides self-guided tours, educational programs, special events and outdoor activities, while the visitors learn and appreciate this world of three hundred and eighty species of fish, invertebrates, birds and marine mammals. Annually, over forty thousand schoolchildren and over half a million visitors come to Seattle Aquarium and enjoy an interactive education in the world of fish. In fact, Seattle Aquarium is a leading provider of marine science education in the region as well as a pioneer of the marine life preservation and many research programs. The achievements in the research and the preservation of the marine life make Seattle Aquarium recognized throughout the USA.
In Seattle Aquarium you can see the world's first aquarium-based salmon ladder and fish hatchery and witness the entire life cycle of Pacific salmon. It is important to point out that the Aquarium is the first institution in the world to successfully raise sea otters from the conception to the adulthood and is the only facility in the United States with that distinctive feature. Today, these lovely creatures warm the hearts of numerous visitors, as well as show the way for Seattle Aquarium researchers of how otters can better survive in their natural surroundings.
The Aquarium is also the first to raise a giant Pacific octopus from the conception to the adulthood. The Aquarium's newest exhibit features the Dark Avenger, a giant Pacific octopus, weighing over 50 pound and residing in a habitat, built to display the largest giant Pacific octopus ever seen.
One more Seattle Aquarium's achievement is that it is the only sea turtle rehab center in the state. The Aquarium regularly searches for trouble turtles, rescues them and gives the first aid. These turtles are a part of the Seattle Aquarium marine collections as well as the inhabitants that enjoy equal rights with many other residents.
The leading position among the Seattle Aquarium preservation programs is given to its thirteen-year project to create massive marine reserves on nine miles of Puget Sound Shorelines. Today, these designated areas are legal to visit, but people are not allowed to collect or spoil anything and, as a result, no damage is brought to local marine habitat. Nowadays, the beaches with marine reserves include the Carkeek Beach, Golden Gardens, Discovery Park, South Alki Beach, Mee-Kwa-Mooks Park and Lincoln Park. In addition to global preservation projects, each program for visitors is aimed not only at providing knowledge about marine life, but also at teaching its preservation. Indeed, you will get tons of interesting information about marine life and one-of-the-kind visual experience.
The best break from daylong "studies" at Seattle Aquarium is a Seattle concert. Choose any, each will be excellent. Seattle is a melting pot of wonderful indoor and outdoor concert and event facilities, catering for any specialty every night.