Shedd Aquarium

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The Oceanarium reopened in 2009 after a major renovation and features an elaborate recreation of a Pacific Northwest marine environment with dolphins, harbor seals, sea otters, penguins and beluga whales. New exhibits in the Oceanarium include the kid-friendly, interactive Polar Play Zone, and the Grainger Beluga Encounter Habitat which brings spectators up close to whales. The Oceanarium's new multi-species aquatic show '"Fantasea" opened in October 2009.

The world's largest indoor aquarium celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2005 and continues to awe crowds with colorful permanent exhibits such as "Seahorses and Seadragons," which leads the list of more than 650 featured species of marine life, and "Amazon Rising," which brings to life one of the world's most diverse environments, where anaconda, piranhas and arawanas make their home.

Additional exhibits include the impressive "Wild Reef" display, one of the largest and most diverse shark exhibits in North America, featuring more than 25 sharks, 500 species of reef fish and the largest display of live coral in the Midwest; and "Grand Cayman Iguana," featuring two of the critically endangered giant lizards, on public display since 2005 after living behind the scenes at Shedd. Learn about threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem at the "Invasive Species" exhibit, which includes Asian carp, zebra mussels and more.

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Grant Park Museums museums, Chicago museums, Chicago museums, Aquarium museums, Science museums