Great Lakes Aquarium Duluth, MN |
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Rating |
Excellent |
Age |
3 and up |
Lockers |
Available |
Restrooms |
Clean and ample |
Food |
Along the Waterfront |
Closest Coffee |
Many places in Duluth |
Recommendation |
This was a great aquarium focusing on fresh water fish. |
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Review: by Sam
The Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth was an unexpected surprise. With our many stops at world-class aquariums focusing on oceangoing creatures, we were not expecting much from this aquarium focusing on the Great Lakes and fresh water creatures. To our surprise, this was a great aquarium and a must-see if you are in the area.
The aquarium is located on the waterfront, in a part of town that reminded me of the Inner Harbor of Baltimore. There was a blues festival happening when we got there so we were treated to good music as we walked to the building.
You start your tour on the top floor. There are interesting displays of strange fish, like some that spend time traveling on land. There is a water bird area where the birds are free to fly around you, and an exhibit showing how rainbow trout and steelheads react to constant waves. Did you know that some waves on Lake Superior have reached over 30 feet?
The centerpiece of the aquarium is a huge 3 story freshwater tank full of salmon, trout, whitefish, pike, and muskies. On the top floor there is a remote camera that you can control. You can drop it deeper into the tank, then swing it up, down, and sideways to get a unique look at these huge native fish.
I had a good time watching the antics of the resident river otter, and the exhibit about invasive species was really interesting. There is also a touch pool that has fresh water rays from the Amazon and sturgeon that you can touch. The rays are really leathery, and the armor on the sturgeon is amazing.
My favorite part of the aquarium may not be one that everyone finds interesting. There is a huge amount of information about Lake Superior and what makes it unique. This is a lot of reading, but the facts are amazing. Did you know that, on average, a molecule of water spends approximately 191 years in Lake Superior? There is also information comparing Superior to other great lakes around the world.
If you are in the Duluth area I definitely recommend spending a morning or afternoon at the Great Lakes Aquarium. You are guaranteed to find something to interest you.
Other Reviews:
Mom: The blowing sand box is a lot of fun. It shows how dunes are created and how wind erosion works. I could have spent hours playing with this, but I had to give someone else a chance.
Will: I loved the giant model of the Great Lakes waterways. It showed how the water moves from Lake Nipigon all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. You could send your boat through different a series of locks. In the locks you can only open one door at a time so the water level in the lock can change like a real lock does. It is fun, and you can get wet.
Dad: I really liked most everything here, but one thing not mentioned was the observation area. Here there are big windows looking out into the bay and further into Lake Superior. They post the schedule of the freighters, so if you are lucky you can see a big ship go under the lift bridge.
