Exploris Aquarium
Exploris Aquarium is in the small town of Portaferry which is located on the tip of the Ards Peninsula situated on the North East Coast of Northern Ireland. The Aquarium was chosen to be built in Portaferry as it is on the coast and has a large variance and diverse marine life and also lies on the shore of the Marine Nature Reserve of Strangford Lough.
Opened in 1987, Exploris Aquarium set out to educate and inform visitors of all ages about the abundance of sea life which the waters surrounding the area hold. As it was so popular in the first few years it was further extended and re-opened again in 1994 by the Prince Charles. Over the years Exploris has added more tanks and therefore expanded its selection of sea life for visitors to view. The Exploris Aquarium is mostly noticed for its involvement for the rehabilitation of seals since 1989 and in 2000 they were proud to open the Seal Sanctuary which helps care for sick and abandoned seals with their rescue to release policy. The Aquarium has four main sections, each with their own specific wildlife. The Strangford Lough Hall offers visitors the chance to view some of the typical species found in the Lough, some of which include Dead Mans Fingers, Prawns, and Spider Crabs etc. The Irish Coast Zone is home to some of the most popular larger fish which inhabit the small streams and rivers which lead out to the Irish Sea, Bass, Mullet, Dogfish, Rays and Lumpsuckers are just a few which are on display. The Open Sea Tank is probably the most popular of displays in the Aquarium and also the largest. Visitors can view species from the cave below, or from above and with 250 tonnes of sea water it is home to animals which live in the deeper waters of the surrounding areas. Conger Eels, Thornback Rays, Ballan Wrasse are just some of the creatures which can be viewed. The Discovery Pools are probably the most exciting for the younger ages, as these are accompanied with demonstrations and they offer visitors to view the creatures living in an example of their natural habitat, Starfish, Sea Urchins, Flatfish and some species of Shark can be seen here.
Exploris Aquarium is an exciting and entertaining attraction for all ages and provides an educational and enjoyable experience for all. It is certainly not a place to miss when on your visit to County Down.