Located in Darling Harbour just north of the Pyrmont Bridge, the Sydney Aquarium opened in October 1988 as a place to exhibit and preserve the flora and fauna of Australian marine ecosystems. The unique architecture resembles a wave rising from the harbor and complements the underwater theme contained within its walls.

Habitat exhibits are arranged according to geographical location. The aquatic complex is divided into areas that explore the Northern and Southern river habitats in addition to the oceans that surround Australia. The main exhibit hall contains a number of displays but there are many others that have been incorporated into floating oceanariums.

The most popular animal featured in the Southern Rivers area is the enigmatic platypus, which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The Murray Darling River System is the largest such ecosystem in the country and many of the fish species are unique to this geographical area. Living with the platypus are other regional creatures including freshwater crustaceans, water dragons and side-necked turtles.

Northern Australia is home to rivers that exhibit fresh water characteristics when it is rainy but then fill with salt water from the coast when the season is dry. Adapting to this change in salinity is something that many species of fish and animals that live there are able to do. The Barramundi is a large sport and food fish that has this rare ability to reside in an ever changing environment.

Also popular with visitors is the Southern Oceans display with its system of tunnels that run underwater and offer great views of the undersea world. Get up close and personal with a multitude of fascinating sea creatures and take time to explore the Sydney Harbor display, the Seal Sanctuary, and the Open Ocean Oceanarium.

The Seal Sanctuary floats on the ocean surface and offers viewing points from an open deck as well as the underwater tunnel system. Living here are several species including fur seals, subantarctic fur seals, New Zealand fur seals and sea lions.

Especially impressive is the Open Ocean Oceanarium with its wonderful collection of sharks, large fish species and giant stingrays. More sharks are kept in captivity here than anywhere else and the habitat itself is the largest of its kind. The endangered Grey Nurse Sharks are the largest species with some measuring as long as 3.5 metres.

Another must see is the massive reproduction of the Great Barrier Reef. Two million litres of seawater are contained in this magnificent creation where hard and soft coral formations combine with tropical fish in an explosion of color and underwater beauty. You can spend hours watching the fish dart in and out of the feathery anemones. Sea cucumbers and sea stars dot the sea bottom in slowly changing patterns. Nowhere on Earth offers a greater diversity of species in one location and they are all represented here. The Reef Theatre is dominated by tall windows that stretch from floor to ceiling and give visitors a panoramic view of the underwater splendour.

Stop by the Mermaid Lagoon and see the two orphaned Dugongs that now make it their home. Centuries ago it was believed that European sailors were fooled into thinking these great beasts were legendary mermaids. These gentle giants eat sea grass and they are sometimes called sea cows.

Anyone who would like to take a closer look at the marine life found in and around Australia should make it a point to visit the Sydney Aquarium.

Howard Rudd is known as a professional author that is known as a Sydney Accommodation specialist and is especially well known for concentrating on Sydney tourism and information initiatives

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