Miami Seaquarium
 The killer whale show at the Seaquarium, starring Lolita. |
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| Date opened | September 24, 1955[1] |
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| Location | Virginia Key, Miami, Florida USA |
| Land area | 38 acres (15 ha) |
| Coordinates | 25°43′59″N 80°09′56″W / 25.733°N 80.165525°WCoordinates: 25°43′59″N 80°09′56″W / 25.733°N 80.165525°W |
| Annual visitors | 600,000 |
| Memberships | Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums AMMPA |
| Website | www.miamiseaquarium.com |
The Miami Seaquarium is a 38-acre (15 ha) oceanarium located on the island of Virginia Key in Biscayne Bay, Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States and is located near downtown Miami. It is the longest operating oceanarium in the United States.[1] In addition to the marine mammals, the Miami Seaquarium also houses various fish, sharks, sea turtles, birds, reptiles and manatees. The park offers eight different marine animal shows and presentations daily and attracts over 600,000 visitors per year.[1] The park employs over 225 full and part-time employees. It is the third largest contributor to Miami-Dade County’s revenue through land lease payments and taxes.[1]
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[edit] History
The park was founded by Fred D. Coppock and Captain W.B. Gray and was the second marine-life attraction in South Florida. Upon its grand opening in 1955, it was the largest marine-life attraction in the world.[citation needed] From 1963 through 1967, 88 television episodes and two movies starring Flipper were filmed at Miami Seaquarium.
[edit] Lolita (Tokitae) the Killer Whale
One of the Miami Seaquarium's attractions is Lolita, one of the world's oldest captive orcas. She is currently the park's only orca. Lolita arrived at the Miami Seaquarium in 1970, where she joined the park's first orca, Hugo. [1][2]
[edit] Gallery
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Lolita, the Killer Whale.
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The dolphin show at the Miami Seaquarium.
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Flipper at the Seaquarium in 1969.
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d e "History of the Miami Seaquarium". http://www.miamiseaquarium.com/visitor_info/history.asp. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
- ^ Samuels, Robert (September 15, 2010). "Lolita still thrives at Miami Seaquarium". The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2012903643_webwhale16.html. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
[edit] External links
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