Brain Storm

Kuroshio Sea @ Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium,
originally uploaded by anzyAprico.

The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, located in Okinawa, Japan, is the world’s second largest aquarium. The aquarium is a part of the Ocean Expo Commemorative National Government Park located in Motobu, Okinawa. The main tank called the ‘Kuroshio Sea’ holds 7,500-cubic meters (1,981,290 gallons) of water and features the world’s largest acrylic glass panel, measuring 8.2 meters by 22.5 meters with a thickness of 60 centimeters. Whale sharks and manta rays are kept amongst many other fish species in the main tank.

On 16 June 2007 at 10:25 PM a manta ray was born at the aquarium after a gestation of 374 days. The manta ray was soon after killed by its father.

The aquarium is one of very few that keep whale sharks in captivity, and is currently trying to breed them.