 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| A North Sea Exploration | |
| By Rodney Hsu, published in January 2006 | |
It is well known for being the largest aquarium in Northern Europe, for many years I have wanted to visit the North Sea Museum at the northwestern tip of Denmark. In December 2003, a devastating fire destroyed the entire facility and many fish. The museum was reopened in September 2005 and recently we had a chance to finally visit it.
Unlike other popular aquariums in the world, the North Sea Museum does not generate its attraction by showcasing exotic fish species from other parts of the world. It is an educational centre that delivers the ecosystems of the North Sea and their inhabitants to museum visitors. While there are not as many exhibiting tanks as I had expected, they are presented in a way that can keep any visitor browsing for hours. Its centre tank, which sits at the heart of the museum, holds 12,000 litres of water. In it, several large species of fish such as cod, turbot, sea bass swim, suspend and burrow. Its Oceanarium, designed back in 1998, is a breath-taking sight. The gigantic 8 meter deep tank is presented in a theatre so visitors can sit and watch a never-ending nature show. The North Sea Museum is open year round except parts of December. To find out more, visit its official website. |
|
 |
 |
| Drama on the seabed. A turbot and wrass are two benthic species that co-exist in the North Sea. They are seen here sharing a piece of sea floor. | A signature species. The North Sea Museum mainly features fish species that are found in the North Sea. One of these, well known for its table fare, is the atlantic cod. |
 |
 |
| Now that's a fish tank! The Oceanarium is a large tank designed to exhibit the pelagic ecosystem so schooling fish can swim as naturally as possible. It contains mackerel, herring and other surface fish. | Feeding frenzy. Each day at 1:00pm, a diver enters the large tank and performs a 25 minute feeding show. During this period, hundreds of pelegic fish circle the diver as he hands out goodies from his bag. |
 |
 |
| Can you spot them all? The habitat tanks feature different ecosystems with a variety of fish and aquatic invertebrates. Each theme tank has a story behind it, keeping readers entertained and informed. | Become an aquatic explorer. The North Sea Lab and other educational gadgets such as this controllable video camera are effective tools that allow young visitors to interact with this alien world. |
|
|||||||||||||