Downtown Aquarium Map
Downtown Aquarium (formerly Colorado's Ocean Journey) is a public aquarium and restaurant located in Denver,Colorado at the intersection of I-25 and 23rd Ave. The 107,000 square feet main building sits on a 17-acre site adjacent to the South Platte River Its freshwater and marine aquaria total approximately 1,000,000 gallons and exhibit a variety of fish and other animals.
EXHIBITS
North America: The North American continent is home to a variety of different habitats. Learning about the interesting habitats and the wonderful creatures that call our continent home is the first step toward ensuring that these habitats will be there for generations to come. See Sunfish, the Alligator snapping turtle, North American river otters, Raibow trout, and Mallards.
| Date opened | June 21, 1999 |
|---|---|
| Location | Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Land area | 107,000 square feet (9,900 m2) |
| Number of species | 500 |
| Total volume of tanks | 1,000,000 US gallons |
In the Desert: Deserts receive less than 10 inches of rain per year and have a very high evaporation rate, which exceeds the annual rainfall rate. Animals living in the desert have adapted to dryness, extreme temperatures and lack of shelter from the sun. See the Western Diamondback rattlesnake, Desert pupfish, Blue poison dart frogs, Tarantula, Green tree boa, and the Central Bearded dragon.
Under the Sea: The Under the Sea exhibit simulates the coral reef found just offshore in many seas, rich in caves and crevices that create excellent habitats. Seahorses, Green Moray eel, Nurse sharks, Blue runners, Groupers, and Southern stingrays are featured in this area.
At the Wharf: A wharf habitat has tides and waves crashing in and out all the time. The animals in this exhibit have various adaptations to survive such a tough environment. Many animals are submerged under water for a length of time, only to have the tide go out again, exposing them to the sun and air. Some animals dig down under the rocks to stay in one spot, while others let go and drift with the tide. See the Cabezon, Sea anemones, Leopard shark, Longnose skate, Rockfish, Ling Cod, and Caribaldi.
At the Rainforest: Seven percent of our world is covered by rainforests. The exhibits in this area simulate different kinds of tropical rainforests. Some exhibits represent rainforests that are periodically inundated by flooding. Other habitats in this area represent a protected mangrove swamp near the mouth of a river, where tangled, submerged roots provide ample hiding places for small fish species. Freshwater stingrays, Red-bellied piranha, African Cichlid, Oscar fish, Barramundi, and Sumatran tigers will greet guests as they marvel at these amazing creatures.
Coral Lagoon: Barrier reefs consist of ridges of coral that run parallel to coastlines. They serve as barricades, breaking down wave energy before it reaches land. This saltwater habitat simulates a protected coral lagoon, sheltered from the pounding waves by a barrier reef. See Spiny lobsters, Butterfly fish, Damselfish, and Angelfish here.
Sunken Temple: Ancient ruins and temples are some of the world's most amazing mysteries. Many different cultures have temple ruins that have survived the ages. See Zebra Sharks, the dangerous Red lionfish, Great Barracuda, Unicorn tangs, Batfish, and various Coral.
Shipwreck: In this area, the paintings on the walls replicate a shipwreck and the exhibits simulate the edge of the coral reef, where most shipwrecks occur. Moon jellysfish, Sea nettles, Sand tiger sharks, Nurse sharks, and Brown sharks, are featured in the largest tank at the Aquarium.
At the Beach: Several interesting and unique animals inhabit areas of shallow water just off the shore. These animals live on rocky or sandy sea bottoms. They are good at hiding, spending most of their adult lives in crevices or burrows, or buried under the sand. See weird and bizarre creatures like the Wolf eel, the Giant Pacific octopus, Cownose rays, and Southern stingrays.
2024 shooting[]
On February 14, 2024, at least one person was killed during a shooting which took place outside the aquarium.[1]