In any case, two hours is plenty of time to see more than 4.000 aquatic creatures, both vertebrates and invertebrates , belonging to over 400 different species. The tour takes you through 60 freshwater and saltwater aquariums representing almost all the world's seas. More than 2.000 cubic meters of water recreate life in Asturian rivers, the Cantabrian Coast, the Caribbean Sea, the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the Red Sea, the African Indian Ocean, the South Atlantic Ocean, and the Subtropical Atlantic Ocean.
We gradually become accustomed to all the habitats, mainly because "don't touch" is prohibited. The main characteristic of the Gijón Aquarium is its strong educational focus, making it ideal for children. We are constantly encouraged to have direct contact with the species.
We get so close to the fish that we are like one of them: boxfish, small shark pups, moray eels, turtles, penguins, eight sharks between 1,5 and 2 meters long brought directly from Florida; from the Asturian coast: lobsters, spider crabs, crabs, sea urchins, mullet, monkfish - this being the only Aquarium in Spain that has this species on display - weever fish, croakers, sea bream and wrasse, from the Caribbean, species such as the humpback, the strider and the shad, among others.
The famous clownfish (made famous by the movie "Finding Nemo"), and others with evocative names like the catfish, the snapping fish, and the yellow goatfish, are joined by the enigmatic seahorses , jellyfish, rabbitfish, surgeonfish, and the carpet shark of the eastern Pacific . There is also room for the spectacular and colorful coral reefs patrolled by boxfish, cowfish, angelfish, and butterflyfish.
Where is the Aquarium and what will we see?
Located on the promenade of the Poniente Beach, without leaving the urban helmet of Gijón, The Aquarium, inaugurated the 10 of June of 2006, does not stop to increase its fame and its powerful attractive like must see.
· The Part of it is dedicated exclusively to the Cantabrian river. Very well set, simulating a rocky, with the noise of the water accompanying everywhere. Then we access the Cantabrian Coast, where an aquarium stands out in which we can enter the head and admire the movement of the fish from a privileged position.
We arrived at two areas of the Atlantic Ocean : the temperate zone and the Caribbean, the domains of "the great swimmers," as explained on the panels. In the temperate zone, inside a huge and unique aquarium containing 1,3 million liters of water and six meters deep, we saw South Atlantic bull sharks, and grey sharks as well, roaming freely.
The trip soon takes us further south, at the end of Hornos, the home of the peculiar Magellanic penguins.
The facility also has a Species Recovery Center , which aims to make the center a national benchmark, a pioneer in the arduous task of recovering and conserving marine fauna.
Gijón Aquarium Reserves
Address:
Poniente Beach
33212, Gijón
Contact phone number : 985 18 52 20
Gijón Aquarium Rates
Adult €17 (online €16)
Children 3-14 years €8,90 (online €8)
Senior + 65 €10,60 (same price online)
People with disabilities €8,40 (online €7,50)
* The ticket gives access to the aquarium once.
* The ticket offices will close one hour before the closing of the aquarium.
* People with disabilities must show the official supporting documentation.
* Children under 16 will have to enter accompanied by an adult.
* For other discounts or promotions ask at the box office. To apply them, an original and personal supporting document must be shown.
More Information: Gijón Aquarium
Source: Gijón Aquarium.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
