Key West is one
of those regions of Miami that sees a large number of tourists all round the
year. The region offers great opportunities for water sports and other types of
adventure sports. Among the various notable sightseeing attractions of this
region, the Key West Aquarium is one that deserves to be mentioned as it not
only offers visitors with an opportunity to see some of the rare aquatic
species but also learn a lot about them in the process. The Key West Aquarium
was built between the years 1932 and 1934 and is currently one of the oldest
aquariums of Florida.
The Key West
Aquarium is the proud home of numerous species such as sharks, jellyfish,
alligators, hermit crabs, horseshoe crabs, sea urchins and sea stars. There are
numerous exciting exhibits that allow visitors to view these creatures up close
and marvel about their aquatic world. One of the popular exhibits that are
frequented by people all the time is the Sea Turtle Conservation which serves
as a safe environment for different turtle species that have been previously
injured. Notable species that are currently a part of this exhibit are the Hawksbill,
Loggerhead, Kemp Ridley and Green Sea Turtle. These turtles are taken care of
by the conservation authority by carrying out research and offering education on
turtle protection. The visitors are also educated about how to keep turtles
safe and provide for them a safe and secure habitat.
The aquarium
also has an impressive exhibit that displays various sharks like nurse sharks,
bonnethead sharks and sandbar sharks. It allows visitors to view the process of
shark feeding on a close scale. The visitors also get to understand what it
feels like to touch a shark skin by touching the tail of a juvenile shark. The
Stingray Bay is one of the latest exhibits of Key West Aquarium that offers
people to see cow nose rays from a close distance. The aquarium guides
encourage visitors to feed the cow nose rays which is a delightful experience
for the people as well as for the rays themselves. The visitors can also
photograph the rays and the helpful guide is always ready to answer to the
queries that the visitors may have.
The Jellyfish
exhibit showcases moon jellyfishes which are known for their otherworldly
beauty. These creatures are not poisonous but can deliver a sharp sting.
Visitors can view and photograph the jellyfishes at close range. The Aquarium
Touch Tank is one of the most important exhibits of the Key West Aquarium. It
allows visitors to interact directly with a wide range of aquatic species by touching
and handling them personally. Some of the species that are a part of this
exhibit include slate pencil sea urchins, sea stars, conchs, sea cucumbers,
serpent sea stars, horseshoe crabs and giant hermit crabs. Finally, there is
the Atlantic Shores Exhibit that displays some of the most important species of
mangrove ecosystem such as the sharks, game fishes, sea turtles and tropical
fishes.
