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The Newport Aquarium

© Mary M. Alward

My husband and I took a trip to Kentucky, and on the way home, we decided to stop at the Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky. It was a hot day, 112 degrees. When we stepped into the Aquarium, it was like stepping into an ice box and it sure felt good.

The Newport Aquarium is a state-of-the-art facility. It has the latest technology and the animals that you see there are awesome.

There are thirteen galleries within the Aquarium, and if you decide to visit, be sure to see all of them. They feature an amazing variety of sea creatures from the smallest to the very large.

Be sure to see all five seamless tunnels. Stand beside a 385,000 gallon tank and look into the mouth of a Nurse shark. It's quite the experience, to say the least.

The Jellyfish Gallery is awesome. It's such a tranquil setting and soft music is piped in, which adds to the mystery. Both colored and white jellyfish can be seen here. The colored are a soft blue color. Watching the jellyfish gives you a sense of wonder. Simulated waves run through the tank to make the jellyfish feel like they are in an ocean.

Gator Bayou is another exhibit that is amazing. When we visited, there were seven new additions to the American Alligator family in the display. The baby alligators were fun to watch. To see them, you wouldn't believe that they will grow up to be ferocious animals.

The Dangerous and Deadly exhibit is home to some of the most poisonous creatures on Earth. You can view lionfish, piranhas, poisonous Dart Frogs and Electric Eels in this area of the Newport Aquarium.

The latest addition to the Aquarium is Hidden Treasures of the Rain Forest. Here you will see the endangered small-clawed otters. They put on quite a show, diving, playing, splashing and grooming each other. They know people are watching and they enjoy the attention. This tank has been set up to represent the otters' natural habitat with rocks, plants and a waterfall.

In this same area is the aviary, which is home to several different species of free-flying birds. Before you step into the area, you have an opportunity to buy a small cup of nectar. When you step into the room, birds come to land on your hand and drink from the cup. It is a marvelous experience.

The Kingdom of Penguins was a delightful exhibit. Here, King and Gentoo penguins dive, splash, and interact with each other. They are much like miniature people in little tuxedos. They live in an environment much like that in the Southern Hemisphere. The water is icy with snow-capped cliffs surrounding it. The area is kept at a cool minus 34 degrees Farenheit.

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