Slideshow: tour the new Ripley’s Aquarium with 18 exclusive photos
Slideshow: tour the new Ripley’s Aquarium with 18 exclusive photos
By Frances McInnis | October 17, 2013
By Frances McInnis | 10/17/2013
Two years of construction and $130 million later, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, the 135,000-square-foot monument to marine life at the base of the CN Tower, finally opened its door yesterday. The attraction is designed to convert visitors into ocean enthusiasts (overnight aquarium camps for kids teach about biodiversity and conservation) and collect tourist dollars (adult admission costs $30). To achieve both those aims, it’s crammed with slick features: visitors can pet a shark, be hypnotized by jellyfish and get a behind-the scenes look at the equipment keeping the 15,000-plus marine residents alive. The showpiece, however, is a 100-metre-long underwater tunnel that allows you to gaze up at the sawfish and sea turtles floating by. Check out the slideshow below for a sneak peek of the magic.
$30 for adults, $10–$20 for children. 288 Bremner Blvd., ripleyaquariums.com/canada
Take the photo tour »
241359 Visitors enter and exit off Bremner Boulevard, which has been clogged with aquarium-related construction for two years (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A001-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A001.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A001.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-a001/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-a001 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
241360 The entrance and ticket hall. Tickets cost $30 for adults and $10–$20 for children (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A002-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A002.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A002.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-a002/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-a002 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
241361 The $130-million attraction has slick tank design, dramatic lighting and eye-catching features like this mural (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A003-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A003.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A003.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-a003/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-a003 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
241362 One of only a few open-topped tanks, near the entrance and gift shop (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A004-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A004.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A004.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-a004/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-a004 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
241363 Visitors can see the actual equipment that aquarium staff use to maintain water quality and temperature (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A005-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A005.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A005.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-a005/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-a005 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
241364 Interactive activities help explain how the tanks and filtration equipment work (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A006-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A006.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A006.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-a006/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-a006 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
241365 An entire wing in exhibit space is devoted to jellyfish (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A007-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A007.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A007.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-a007/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-a007 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
241366 Backlit displays and coloured lights emphasize the jellies’ mesmerizing movements (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A008-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A008.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-A008.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-a008/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-a008 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
241367 Jellyfish in the Planet Jellies area (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B001-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B001.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B001.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-b001/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-b001 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
241368 The aquarium’s main showpiece is a long network of saltwater tanks with a 100-metre acrylic tunnel running underneath (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B002-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B002.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B002.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-b002/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-b002 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
241369 Visitors stand on a slow-moving conveyor belt and are carried past sand tiger sharks, eels, sawfish, giant rays and sea turtles (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B003-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B003.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B003.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-b003/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-b003 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
241370 The tunnel in the Dangerous Lagoon, which, at 2.5 million litres, is the aquarium's largest exhibit (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B004-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B004.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B004.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-b004/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-b004 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
241371 The aquarium’s dozens of habitats also feature venomous fish, electric eels, seah horses, piranhas, living corals and creatures from Canadian waters (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B005-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B005.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B005.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-b005/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-b005 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
241372 A lionfish. Roar! (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B006-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B006.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B006.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-b006/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-b006 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
241373 The Ray Bay features dozens of stingrays that are fed throughout the day by divers conducting shows (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B007-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B007.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B007.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-b007/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-b007 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
241374 The Rainbow Reef, which is home to over 100 species of fish, also has an educational dive show every other hour (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B008-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B008.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-B008.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-b008/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-b008 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
241375 A learning centre in the main atrium gives visitors the chance to touch horseshoe crabs, small rays and bamboo sharks (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-C001-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-C001.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-C001.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-c001/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-c001 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
241447 Dioramas, informational signs and other educational tools offer insight on the creatures in the tanks (Image: Kayla Rocca) Ripley’s Aquarium Ripley’s Aquarium https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-C002-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-C002.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-C002.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/ripleys-aquarium/slide/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-c002/ ripleys-aquarium-toronto-c002 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
Watch video of the Aquarium:
https://vimeo.com/115888215