Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Sydney. Sydney Wonders, “Where is the largest aquarium tank in the world.” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Sydney!

Have you ever had a pet fish? When it comes to pets, many kids have a pet goldfish at one time or another. If you’re just learning how to care for a pet, you can’t beat a goldfish for a first pet. All you need is a glass container, some water, and fish food. Oh, and, of course, a fish!

A simple goldfish bowl can be great. People can drop in a small underwater castle and watch a fish or two swim happily around. However, some people move up to a more complex aquarium. Home aquariums can be fun to set up and maintain. They can hold many fish, as well as other types of marine life, including plants.

Do you like home aquariums? If so, you might want to consider working at a public aquarium one day. Public aquariums are great places to visit as a family, as part of a school field trip, or for amusement while on vacation. They give people the chance to see a variety of fish and other sea life

Would you like to meet a sea turtle? How about a blowfish or a stingray? At public aquariums, visitors can see a wide variety of marine life.

Would you like to visit the world’s largest aquarium? That means you’re headed to China, home of the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom. This aquarium holds 12.9 million gallons of water!

At the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, you’ll see whale sharks, beluga whales, polar bears, and many other animals. The aquarium holds 20,000 rare fish of different species. While you’re there, be sure to check out Chimelong’s water coaster and marine-themed parade, as well.

Is China bit far away for you? Don’t worry! There are many public aquariums all over the world. In Singapore, you could visit the Marine Life Park. This is the second largest aquarium in the world. It’s home to species like the goliath grouper and hammerhead shark.

In Spain, you could make your way to Oceanographic. This aquarium gets its water straight from the Mediterranean Sea. That means its 45,000 animals feel right at home!

You could even visit a large public aquarium in the United States. Head for Atlanta, where you’ll find the Georgia Aquarium. It houses over 120,000 animals from over 500 different species. The Georgia Aquarium was the world’s largest aquarium when it opened in 2005.  In total, it has over 8.5 million gallons of freshwater and saltwater!

Besides being popular among visitors, aquariums serve many important purposes. For example, they allow scientists to learn more about the marine life they house. They also provide homes for species that are endangered. Of course, aquariums also give students the chance to learn about sea creatures up close on field trips!

Would you like to visit an aquarium? What animals would you most like to see? How about sea plants like algae or mangroves? Whatever marine life you’re looking for, you’re bound to find it at a public aquarium.

Standards: CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1, CCRA.W.2, CCRA.W.9, CCRA.L.1, CCRA.L.2

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Tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day is going…going…GONE!