Inside the Grand Hall of the Shedd Aquarium to the left stands a tank filled with vibrant fish of all colors darting among multicolored coral and aquatic plants. With yellow-and-pink bodies, a school of small fish races through the water, while a small clownfish swims in and out of a sea anemone.
To the right stands a calmer tank. Little brown fish swim in and out of the bright green leaves of a plant and other fish hide among the submerged tree branches. Between the tanks, a short pathway connects them.
These two tanks are the Shedd Aquarium’s new “Wonder of Water” exhibit, which was unveiled in December. The exhibit replaced the Caribbean Reef exhibit that had been a staple of the aquarium since 1971. This is only the third time in the Shedd’s history that it has unveiled a new exhibit.
This latest addition to the aquarium includes two massive 28,110-gallon tanks featuring saltwater and freshwater ecosystems. Periscopes on each tank show viewers a closer view of the life in the tanks.
This exhibit is a part of the Shedd’s $500 million Centennial Commitment initiative to improve the aquarium ahead of its 100th anniversary in 2030, according to the aquarium website.
The saltwater tank is home to corals, anemones, 1,500 fish and other aquatic animals like crabs. The freshwater tank has 5,000 fish and 50 species of aquatic plants.
The exhibit aims to show how water is the single source of life for all living things on Earth, the website said. The side-by-side tanks highlight the differences and similarities between salt and freshwater, as well as the unique biodiversity that each ecosystem contains.
“Wonder of Water invites guests to step in between two distinctly rich environments and immerse themselves in the impressive variety of what life looks like beneath the water’s surface,” wrote Kayley Galassini, assistant director of public relations at Shedd Aquarium, in an email to the Midway. “The size, scope and sensations of the two wondrous worlds spark deeper connections to life underwater and the astonishing resource that allows all beings great and small to thrive.”
The exhibit shines an important light on freshwater ecosystems, which are typically not as represented in aquariums.
“Our aquarium sits on the shores of one of our planet’s largest sources of freshwater,” wrote Ms. Galassini, “so what better way to celebrate those environments than put it in the heart of our building on the same level as a reef.”
“Wonder of Water” is a beautifully unique depiction of the diversity of bodies of water on Earth. It combines mesmerizing visuals of fish, coral and plants that enchant viewers with necessary education about the importance of water for all living things.
