Chicago - John G Shedd Aquarium

The John G. Shedd Aquarium is touted as the largest indoor aquarium in the world. It houses close to 8000 different marine creatures representing around 700 separate species. The aquarium has been collecting fish and marine mammals from around the world since it first opened its doors to the public in 1930. The exhibits are designed to promote environmental awareness, conservation and responsible use of natural resources within marine ecosystems.

Some highlights of the aquarium include:

The 90,000 gallon Coral Reef exhibit with sharks, turtles and other Caribbean Sea inhabitants. Visitors can watch as divers dip into the tank each day to feed them.

The Oceanarium, which features a 3-million-gallon saltwater pavilion that re-creates the coastal, marine environment of the Pacific Northwest. Nature trails wind through stands of indigenous trees to a series of pools that contain, among other creatures, Beluga whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, Alaska sea otters and harbor seals.

Amazon Rising: Seasons of the River exhibit, which recreates the diverse, abundant and changeable ecosystem around the Amazon basin. It features more than 250 species including piranhas, birds, sloths, insects, snakes, catfish, stingrays and caiman lizards.