| National Aquarium In Baltimore |
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The National Aquarium in Baltimore is a public Aquarium located in the historic Inner Harbor area of Baltimore, Maryland , USA . It was opened in 1981 and was constructed during the urban renewal period of Baltimore. The aquarium has an annual attendance of 1.6 million to see its collection of 10,500 specimens of 560 different species. Particular attractions include the Dolphin display, rooftop Rainforest , and central Ray pool, and multiple-story Shark tanks. As of 2005 , the National Aquarium is the largest tourist attraction in the state of Maryland . The Aquarium completed the renovation and a multi-million dollar expansion on December 16, 2005; the expanded portion -- featuring an " Animal Planet Australia : Wild Extremes" exhibit -- will be 65,400 ft² (6,000 m²). The exterior of the new expansion will feature a glass-enclosed interactive area that will teach visitors about bayscaping, 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, a 35-foot (10-m) Waterfall that was modeled from an actual waterfall in a Maryland state park is the prominent display and is also visible from outside the Aquarium. Also inside the expanded portion, there is a recreation of an Australian habitat. The Umbrawarra Gorge of Australia is carefully depicted inside the upper portion of the expanded building, and the exhibit depicts lands of fire, drought, and flood. Aboriginal artwork is also found in the gorge exhibit and is based on actual Aboriginal artwork that has been found in Australia. These images depict aboriginal interpretations of the land that they live on. According to the December 2005 issue of ''Baltimore'' magazine, the expansion cost $74.6 million, uses 33,000 square feet of glass and rises 120 feet into the air. According to a ''Baltimore Sun'' article dated Friday, December 9 , 2005 regarding the expansion, the National Aquarium expects a 400,000-person increase in visitors by the end of 2006 as a result of the expansion and has a goal of bringing in 2 million visitors by 2010. City offcials in the Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Association hopes the increased visitors to the aquarium as a result of the expansion will boost the number of overnight leisure travelers and businesses at the Baltimore Convention Center , which since its $151 million 1997 expansion hasn't been meeting projections. It will cost visitors more to enter the National Aquarium, as well after the expansion opens. The ''Baltimore Sun'' also reports that after a grand opening day special for all visitors $7.50 on December 16, 2005, the prices for admission will rise, adults rising from $19.50 to $21.95 and children rising from $13.50 to $14.95. It was also revealed that originally, multiple themes were test-marketed for the expansion before the Austrialian theme was approved, the originial themes were the Florida Everglades , the ring of fire in Thailand , and Arctic birds complete with an Iceberg . Lyn Frankel, senior director of marketing at the Aquarium, stated that the expansion is only the beginning of the Aquarium's expansion plans over the next 10 years. City is upbeat on Down Under - The Baltimore Sun - Friday, December 9th, 2005 On September 14 th, 2005 , the '' Baltimore Sun '' published a story stating that on Sunday, September 11 th, 2005 , Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt visited the National Aquarium with their children and stated that they promise to return to the National Aquarium in December , after the expansion is completed. Source: Sharks are star attraction: Pitt, Jolie visit Charm City - Wednesday, September 14th, 2005 - The Baltimore Sun The National Aquarium in Baltimore is not to be confused with the National Aquarium In Washington, D.C. . EXTERNAL LINKS
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