National Aquarium in Baltimore - Glass and Pier 3 Pavilions

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Slideshow | Lightbox (103) Tags: aquarium baltimore maryland museums usa Posted: May 18, 2009 by Val

Although National Aquarium in Baltimore is not the largest aquarium in the world or even in the United States, it's big and interesting enough to attract huge crowds of visitors not only from places close to Baltimore but also from all the United States and, in fact, from many other countries. The aquarium was opened in 1981 in the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore, Maryland. It was financed by the city but received a designation of a "national" aquarium from the U.S. Congress.

Today (2009), the Aquarium is a home to about 16,500 specimens and more than 660 species of animals. All Aquarium exhibits are located in its three pavilions: Glass Pavilion, Pier 3 Pavilion and Pier 4 Pavilion. Glass Pavilion is the smallest but nonetheless very impressive as it is completely enclosed within walls of glass. It has only one exhibit: Animal Planet Australia - Wild Extremes presenting an interpretation of a red rock river gorge. The exhibit is interesting, but in my opinion is not the best what the Aquarium can offer, and its tour can be completed in 10 - 15 minutes.

In addition to Animal Planet Australia, Glass Pavilion contains various visitor amenities with 4-D Immersion Theater being the most important. It offers 3-D movies enhanced by sensory effects such as mist, wind and even smell. Shpw length is about 15 minutes.

Pier 3 Pavilion is where you spend most of the time touring the Aquarium. It has five levels with the South American rainforest habitat under a 66-foot- (20-metre-) high glass pyramid located at the top (Level 5). Other levels (which you visit with one-way, self-guided tour) contain thematic exhibits (Maryland: Mountains to the Sea on Level 2; Surviving through Adaptation on Level 3; Sea Cliffs, Kelp Forest, Pacific Coral Reef on Level 4). When you finish your journey through level you begin descending (using a spiral concourse) as if traveling from one ocean or sea level to another: from Atlantic coral reefs to the depth of the Open Ocean. Atlantic coral reefs are presented via the 335,000-gallon (1,270,000-litre) Atlantic Coral Reef tank, providing a diver’s eye view of tropical fish. The Open Ocean exhibit (including large sharks) is designed using the 225,000-gallon (850,000-litre) tank. (see the second part of the article for Pier 4 Pavilion and its dolphin show).

National Aquarium in Baltimore is a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with your family and at the same time expand the knowledge about life on Earth. It's entertaining and educational - come and you will not regret.

National Aquarium in Baltimore, Glass Pavilion	View on Pier 4 Pavilion (Dolphin show facilities and amphitheater)	Aquarium entrance is in the Glass Pavilion. At 9 am when Aquarium opens, there are few visitors. This changes as day progresses. If you can, come during weekdays or by 9 am.	Aquarium ticket. Note that there are separate parts of the ticket for 4D Theater and Dolphin Show. Base ticket is about $25 (2009). Dolphin show and 4D theater require extra fees.
That's what you see as soon as you enter aquarium	Aquarium lobby area. Quotation on the wall: "If there is a magic on this planet, it is contained in water." Loren Eiseley	Megalodon jaws. Megalodon teeth look like great white shark teeth but three times bigger.	4D Immersion Theater
Aquarium shop. The decor and effect of the aquarium are impressive	Inside Aquarium shop	Inside Aquarium shop	Directions to exhibits and various aquarium facilities
Harbor overlook area - you can rest here.	Bubble tubes mark the entrance to Pier 3 Pavilion	Bridge (concourse) to Pier 4 Pavilion	Glass Pavilion, entrance to Animal Planet Australia exhibit
Barramundi, it is known for changing sex from male to female when reaching the length of 20 inches	Freshwater whipray with venomous tail barb	Seven-spot archerfish and turtles	There many varieties of turtles in Australia
Moving to Pier 3 Pavilion - View on Level 1, Wings in the water	Zebra shark lives peacefully among stingrays	Adult Zebra Shark has dark brown spots that replace fading white stripes	Southern stingray and Tarpon. Aquarium has a good collection of various stingrays
Bonnethead shark. It's a small relative to hammerhead sharks	Pier 3 Pavilion, entering Level 2 - Maryland: Mountains to the sea	Coastal Beach display. The exhibits are notable for re-creating natural habitats from throughout the world.	Atlantic Shelf display. As you can see, kids love the Aquarium. In fact, it is one of the favorite places from field trips.
One of the inhabitants of the Atlantic shelf	View on Level 2; it displays Allegany Stream, Tidal Marsh, Coastal Beach, Atlantic Shelf	Going from one level to another in Pier 3 Pavilion	Electric eel. 9 ft (3m) eel can generate 800 volts - enough to stun a man
The theme of Level 3 is Surviving through Adaptation. This is a Longnosed Butterfly fish	Aquarium is well maintained - this is an example of cleaning of tanks	Various ways of feeding is a good illustration of adaptation - the theme of Level 3	This fish looks like a rock
Hiding is an example of adaptation - we could not find inhabitants of this display	Lionfish (displayed at Invasive species section)	Lionfish are known for their extremely long and separated venomous spines	We really like this display - the wreckage of sunken ship now the home of many species
A specimen living in the wreckage	Migration display, Striped bass; it migrates between fresh and salt water	I could not identify this strange looking fish	Moving to higher levels in Pier 3 Pavilion. This skeleton suspended from the aquarium roof belongs to a whale.
Pacific coral riff on Level 4 of Pier 3 Pavilion. Other displays include sea cliffs, kelp forest, and Amazon river forest	There many interesting information displays in the Aquarium. This one warns us about disappearing tropical rainforest.	Rainforest displays are beautiful. They illustrate the rich life in abundance on all levels of rainforest.	Life in rainforest waters view from under the water
I could not identify this fish, but this is certainly not a Remora	This one looks mean	Arriving to Level 5 (Pier 3 Pavilion) - Upland tropical rainforest	Tarantula - do not worry, it is under glass
Scarlet Ibis	It looks like a parrot to me, but there are many varieties of parrots...	One of poisonous frogs - and as many other frogs it is endangered	Going down from top levels of Pier 3 Pavilion - here, exhibits start with Atlantic coral reefs
Aquarium designers did a good job with creating coral reefs atmosphere. Coral exhibits are modeled after areas of Florida Keys	All reef structures are artificial but very accurate in shape and color	There are plenty of Lookdowns (Jack)	It looks to me like a Grunt but I am not sure
Atlantic Spadefish	I have no idea what this fish is	One of these is a Silk Snapper; another one looks like a Flounder, but I am not sure	Fish are helping themselves with a bunch of celery (see right side)
Going down is like descending to the depth of the open ocean	A shark	Lemon shark - survive well in captivity	Sandbar shark distinguishable by its very high first dorsal fin
Smalltooth sawfish	Feeding platform	Harbor View Cafe (seasonal and can be rented)	View from Harbor View Cafe
Aquarium Cafe (located on the ground level)	Aquarium Cafe - plenty of snacks	Aquarium Cafe - bars with food