Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

The Kaiyukan Aquarium
Date opened	May 1990 [1]
Location	Osaka, Japan
Land area	26,570 square metres (286,000 sq ft) [2]
Coordinates	34°39′16.1″N 135°25′44.0″E / 34.654472°N 135.42889°E / 34.654472; 135.42889Coordinates: 34°39′16.1″N 135°25′44.0″E / 34.654472°N 135.42889°E / 34.654472; 135.42889
Number of animals	29,000 [3]
Number of species	470 [3]
Volume of largest tank	5,400 cubic metres (190,699 cu ft) [4]
Total volume of tanks	10,941 cubic metres (386,378 cu ft) [4]
Memberships	JAZA[5]
Website	www.kaiyukan.com/language/eng/

The Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (海遊館, Kaiyūkan^?, known as the Kaiyukan) is an aquarium located in the ward of Minato in Osaka, Japan, near Osaka Bay. It is one of the largest public aquariums in the world,^[6] and is a member of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA).

The aquarium is about a five minute walk from Osakako Station on the Osaka Municipal Subway Chūō Line, and is next to the Tempozan Ferris Wheel.^[6]

Exhibits

The walk-through aquarium displays marine life in several habitats comprising 27 tanks in 16 main exhibits with a total volume of 10,941 tons of water. The habitats are from the Ring of Fire area of the Pacific Ocean. The largest tank is 9 metres (30 ft) deep and holds 5,400 cubic metres (190,699 cu ft) of water and a variety of fish including manta rays and a whale shark.^[4]

The tanks used in the aquarium are made of 314 tonnes (346 tons) of acrylic glass. The largest single pane measures six meters by five meters by thirty centimeters and weighs roughly 10 tons. At the thicknesses used, regular glass would be unwieldy and would not have the desired transparency.

Architecture

The Kaiyukan’s conceptual design, architecture, and exhibit design was led by Peter Chermayeff of Peter Chermayeff LLC while at Cambridge Seven Associates.^[1]

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} "Peter Chermayeff LLC". peterchermayeff.com. Peter Chermayeff LLC. http://www.peterchermayeff.com. Retrieved 23 July 2010. 
2. ^ "Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan)". frommers.com. Frommer's. http://www.frommers.com/destinations/osaka/A31300.html. Retrieved 23 July 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "About Us". kaiyukan.com. Osaka Waterfront Development Co. Ltd.. http://www.kaiyukan.com/language/eng/profile/index.htm. Retrieved 23 July 2010. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} "Exhibition". kaiyukan.com. Osaka Waterfront Development Co. Ltd.. http://www.kaiyukan.com/language/eng/exhibition/index.htm. Retrieved 23 July 2010. 
5. ^ "List of Aquariums". jazga.or.jp. Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums. http://www.jazga.or.jp/english/june.2007.list%20of%20aquariums.pdf. Retrieved 12 June2010. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "Osaka Aquarium". japaneselifestyle.com.au. Japanese Lifestyle. http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/travel/osaka_aquarium.htm. Retrieved 23 July 2010. 

External links

• Official website (English)