National Aquarium in Baltimore
The National Aquarium in Baltimore is a public aquarium located in the famous Inner Harbor area of Baltimore City, US. It was opened in 1981 and was constructed during the urban renewal period of Baltimore City.
As of 2004, the National Aquarium is the largest tourist attraction in the state of Maryland. As of October 22 2003, the Aquarium is currently undergoing renovations and expansions. The expanded portion will be 65,400 ft² (6,000 m²) and is expected to open in Spring of 2005.
When it opens, visitors can expect to see a glass-enclosed expanded portion of the aquarium and a waterfront park. In the park there will be interactive and hands-on activities that will teach visitors about bayscaping, the 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 ft (10 m)waterfall that was modeled from an actual waterfall in a Maryland state park. It will be visible from people outside of 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, the exhibit will depict lands of fire, drought, and flood. Aboriginal artwork will also be found on the recreation of the gorge and will be based on actual Aboriginal artwork that has been found in Australia. The artwork will convey messages of sacred interpetations of the native people and the land that they live on.
