
October 26, 2023
TENNESSEE AQUARIUM
1 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN 37402
“The Tennessee Aquarium is a non-profit public aquarium located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States. It opened in 1992 on the banks of the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga, with a major expansion added in 2005.” - Wikipedia
This large aquarium is housed in two buildings. The first, River Journey, in my opinion, is the star. After taking an escalator to the top floor you wind down through aquariums with many local fish and reptile species, starting with shallow streams and ending in tanks showing what is in the deep, dark waters of the Tennessee River. While wandering down visitors experience aquariums with fish and reptiles in rivers from around the world.
When the river journey is finished visitors take a short walk to the Ocean Journey. Like in the first building an escalator takes everyone to the top floor where lemurs and tortoises greet visitors, followed by a wonderful penguin exhibit. The path down took visitors past a large ocean tank with all sorts of fish including sharks. Also along the way down were jellyfish, nettles, an octopus, and other smaller aquariums with different fish. While this building was impressive, in my opinion it didn’t match the River Journey experience, and compared to other ocean aquariums I’ve visited, it left a little to be desired. Regardless, the Tennessee Aquarium is a must-see location in Chattanooga.
Tennessee Aquarium as seen from the river. River Journey on right, Ocean Journey on left.
River Otters
River Otters
Trout
Fresh water ray
Sturgeon
Sturgeon Tank. Visitors are allowed to reach in and touch the fish.
Alligator
Alligator
Wood Duck
If you look closely you can see the different levels in the River Journey
Frogs
Crocodile Lizard
Elephantnose Fish
Aquatic Caecilian - these were weird.
Giant Freshwater Puffer
Yes, their neck is so long that it stretches from one side of the log to the other.
Ring-tailed Lemur
Penguin
Shark
Caribbean Spiny Lobster
Jellyfish
What I could see of the Octopus
Pacific Sea Nettle
Panther Chameleon
A little passageway under the shark tank.