North Carolina Aquariums
North Carolina Aquariums | |
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![]() A "Live Dive!" program at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. | |
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Date opened | 1976 |
Volume of largest tank | Pine Knoll Shores: 306,000 US gallons (1,160,000 L; 255,000 imp gal)
Roanoke Island: 285,000 US gallons (1,080,000 L; 237,000 imp gal) Fort Fisher: 235,000 US gallons (890,000 L; 196,000 imp gal) |
Total volume of tanks | Fort Fisher: 455,000 US gallons (1,720,000 L; 379,000 imp gal)
Pine Knoll Shores: 430,000 US gallons (1,600,000 L; 360,000 imp gal) Roanoke Island: 410,000 US gallons (1,600,000 L; 340,000 imp gal) |
Memberships | AZA[1] |
Website | www.ncaquariums.com |
North Carolina Aquariums is a system of three
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
The Coastal Waters Gallery, which includes the
The Open Oceans Gallery includes Sharkstooth Ledge, which features fish common to offshore North Carolina, such as
Holding 235,000 US gallons (890,000 L; 196,000 imp gal), Cape Fear Shoals is the largest of the aquarium's
The Exotic Aquatics Display features animals native to
The 550-US-gallon (2,100 L; 460 imp gal) Pacific Reef Display features living
Expansion
The facility closed in November 1999 for a major expansion and reopened in March 2002. The new construction increased the size of aquarium systems from 77,000 US gallons (290,000 L; 64,000 imp gal) to 455,000 US gallons (1,720,000 L; 379,000 imp gal). The expansion included the creation of the Cape Fear Shoals tank, a 235,000-US-gallon (890,000 L; 196,000 imp gal) exhibit recreating the hard bottomed coral reefs off the coast of North Carolina.
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
Since reopening, the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores has continued to feature aquatic animals of
Most of the larger creatures inhabit the aquarium's centerpiece exhibit, the 306,000-US-gallon (1,160,000 L; 255,000 imp gal) Living Shipwreck. Along with hundreds of schooling fishes and other animals, they create a swirl of constant motion around a replica of
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Nimbus_2011.jpg/220px-Nimbus_2011.jpg)
The North Carolina Aquarium also features two hands-on exhibits: the Tidal Touch Pool, featuring a large variety of aquatic invertebrates, and Skate and Ray Encounters.[4]
On August 11, 2010, a rare white sea turtle was brought to the aquarium for care. The turtle, Nimbus, was weak and smaller than the average loggerhead hatchling. It turned up when a hatched-out Pine Knoll Shores nest was excavated for baby turtles left behind. Hampered by a cleft palate, it had to be coaxed into eating. It lagged behind in growth, also, but appears to be catching up with other hatchlings of the same age. Nimbus is on exhibit in the Tidal Waters Gallery. The turtle is something of a rock star at the aquarium — especially with visiting school groups.
Throughout the year the North Carolina Aquarium offers free daily programs, including live animal programs, animal feeding presentations, a "Live Dive!" show, puppet shows, quiz games and hands-on activities. A number of special activities are available for a small fee. In the summer, beginning June 1, the North Carolina Aquarium offers snorkeling, surfing classes, night treks to search for nesting sea turtles, onboard collection and river cruises, kayaking and canoeing excursions, and fishing courses. Kayaking, canoeing and fishing programs continue into the fall when seafood cooking classes are also offered. Behind-the-scenes tours, Dinner with the Critters, and Breakfast with the Rays are offered year-round.
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
North Carolina Aquariums | |
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![]() Entrance to North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island | |
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Website | www |
The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is a facility located on the Outer Banks. It holds a replica of the USS Monitor, a Civil War ironclad which sank off the coast of Cape Hatteras in late December, 1862. On June 27, 2014, the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center opened to the public.[5] The Center rehabilitates endangered sea turtles, including those that have washed ashore after suffering cold-stunning in winter waters.[6]
Jennette's Pier
In 2002, the NC Aquarium Society purchased Jennette's Pier in Nags Head, the oldest pier along the Outer Banks, with plans to refurbish it as an outreach site. Those plans were put on hold in September 2003, when Hurricane Isabel destroyed the structure. Plans were made to completely rebuild Jennette's as a concrete structure with a 1,000-foot (300 m) pier. $25 million was set aside for construction which began in early 2009. On May 21, 2011, Jennette's Pier was finally reopened to the public. Year-round education programs and week-long summer camps focused on ethical practices in recreational fishing, marine science, and resource conservation are conducted at the pier. Jennette's Pier is self-supporting and receives no state appropriations to operate. Three wind turbines on the pier when repaired and upgraded will provide a significant portion of the pier's electricity.[7] The pier is also utilized as a platform for ocean-related scientific research projects.
In media
"Oceans Under Glass," a segment of a 1995 episode of the PBS television series Return to the Sea, profiles the operations of the North Carolina Aquariums.
Notes
- ^ "Currently Accredited Zoos and Aquariums". aza.org. AZA. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Welcome to the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores" (PDF) (Press release). North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ Hall, Martha and Tabbie Nance. Insider's Guide: North Carolina's Central Coast and New Bern. 2007. Page. 104.
- ^ Hall, 2007
- ^ roanokeisland (14 July 2014). "STAR Center Grand Opening". North Carolina Aquariums. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014.
- ^ Graff, Frank (3 February 2023). "Saving Cold-Stunned Sea Turtles". PBS North Carolina. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "Wind Turbines to Return to Jennette's Pier This Fall | Brindley Beach Vacations". www.brindleybeach.com. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
External links
- Official website
- Carolina Aquarium Community Forum
- Jennettes Pier
- [1]
- Return to the Sea Episode 301 "Oceans Under Glass," "Swimming With Whales," and "Whales Weep Not" at OceanArchives (Fair use policy for video at OceanArchives)
- Return to the Sea Episode 301 segment "Oceans Under Glass" at OceanArchives (Fair use policy for video at OceanArchives)