The Aquarium of Seville is celebrating, it is already 10 years of splendor where it has managed to become a tourist reference in the city with more than two million visitors who have walked through its facilities in this time, not only tourists but also Sevillian schoolchildren, around 40,000 each year, who find there an inspiration to guide their learning.
Since its inauguration, from the hands of founding investors to those of the company Global Omnium in 2017, with great experience in the matter as manager of the Oceanogràfic of Valencia, one of the The largest aquarium in Europe, the Aquarium has not stopped renovating and expanding, with a great team that continues working to increase the service it offers its visitors. It has a better capture of seawater for maintaining its Oceanarium in optimal conditions, with the deepest tank in the Iberian Peninsula, with two million liters of water and nine meters of depth, and a larger surface area for the conservation and breeding of species.
During these 10 years of life, many animals have passed through its tanks and pools, to become illustrious tenants much loved by all. Some have their own name and their diet and health are closely monitored. Among the best known are the bull shark Margarida, who arrived days before the inauguration of the facilities ten years ago from a Portuguese aquarium, and the caretta caretta turtles, Chelo and Nando, who arrived with the first conservation project of the Aquarium, and Frankie, who is being fostered at the facilities. Some others arrived by popular demand, such as jellyfish; or by outreach projects, such as the guitarfish; or newcomers such as Kawasaki, a green turtle with an enigmatic look, zebra sharks, piranhas, various species of rays, curious sweetlips, intriguing lungfish and arowanas. Thus, up to more than 400 species.
Rocío Alcázar, its manager, is the reflection of the excitement that comes with celebrating ten years for a "unique" facility in Spain. And the fact is that the Seville Aquarium is the only saltwater one in an inland city. In the euphoria of the anniversary, she remembers the beginnings of a project that started several years before its inauguration with the construction of its structure, which was abandoned until its subsequent recovery. And she highlights the "unity of a team" that has managed to leave behind the not so good times. "There were economic problems that, although we managed to maintain the facilities, made everything very difficult," says its current manager.
The Seville Aquarium has a clear "symbolic value", precisely because of its location, in an inland city that makes it unique, but marked by the passage of a singular Guadalquivir River, directly connected to the sea and the only navigable river in Spain and which moves with the tides.
And this is how you navigate through this Aquarium, from the river to the sea, putting special emphasis on Sevillian species. The first tanks you find are freshwater, to make visible native species, such as the sturgeon, now extinct, the gypsy barbel or the eel; and invasive species, such as carp, which live or have lived in the Guadalquivir as an emblem of the aquatic animal history of Seville, in addition to reproducing ecosystems, which make this space unique. "It's another of our attractions. Species such as anemones, which open and close depending on the time of day, can change the appearance of the tanks. This means that, depending on the time of day, you can see a different aquarium."
The Aquarium is working on the new Sea Sensory corner, an experience that goes beyond sight, activating all the senses, which is combined with a new interactive projection that simulates the movement of the ocean, offering a fun experience in which adults and children can enjoy the sensation of walking along the seashore at dawn.
To commemorate its tenth anniversary, the aquarium has prepared a special program of activities aimed at all types of public that began to be held last week. From guided tours to educational workshops, as well as contests and raffles, the aquarium wants everyone to feel part of this celebration.
On Monday, September 30, coinciding with the opening day of the facilities, a very special event will be held at 12:30 pm in the main view of the Oceanário. During this activity, which will be free with admission to the aquarium (until full capacity is reached), the candles will be blown out on a large cake in honor of these ten years dedicated to the protection of the oceans. Visitors who attend that day will receive an exclusive gift as a thank you for being part of the aquarium's history, as well as a surprise on the Paseo de Cristóbal Colón, at 7:00 p.m., next to the Torre del Oro. This activity, entitled The Rhythm of the Ocean, will feature the presence of a well-known Sevillian musician and five of the aquarium's most beloved animals, in an event that promises to be unforgettable.
From THE SUN PLACES, we want to congratulate the Seville Aquarium and all its local and foreign visitors for the success of these 10 years, hoping that many more can be celebrated, since it is a great fortune to have in the city this meeting space between citizens and animal species of great beauty. CONGRATULATIONS AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR GREAT WORK.