Cinequa – The Aquarium of Paris
Like a fish in the water
This paradise of aquatic discovery welcomes you at the very heart of Paris for a plunge in a mysterious and surprising underwater universe. Thousands of fish, seashells and corals will take you travelling around the world from Brittany to the Caribbean’s. So, get in the water!
Sharks in a giant aquarium
After almost 20 years of absence, the Trocadero aquarium is back since 2006 under the new name : Aquarium of Paris – Cineaqua. Strengthened by its great experience since it first opened for the 1878 World Expo, year when it was Europe’s largest aquatic complex, the place has become more modern and is today attempting to achieve the unlikely mix between aquarium and cinematography.
The 3500m² trail gives you the opportunity to meet some of the 9000 specimens of fish and invertebrates divided into 43 tanks. Its locations is as good as it gets : on the capital’s podium, just opposite the Eiffel tower and its figures speak for themselves. In addition to the 500 corals, the 2 cinema rooms and the 20 tons of salt necessary to supply the sea-water tanks, here, you will also find France’s biggest tank. With 3 000 000 litres of water, the sharks tank is unequalled throughout the country. 9,60m high and 33m wide, it contains 4 different species of sharks.
The Aquarium of Paris- Cineaqua offers its visitors to discover the French littoral with a trip around the metropolitan and overseas coasts. You will be stunned by a panel of fish representing some 450 regional species. Starting point : the Trocadero gardens. There, you will plunge head first under the huge glass wave into the depths of the aquarium which is entirely underground.
Indo-Pacific Aquarium
Inside, the visit starts in France with 6 tanks dedicated to the Seine river.
Then, the Manche and the Atlantic ocean come to the fore with seven tanks gathering sea anemones, starfish, common hermit crabs and several species of ray. After that starts the big dive into the overseas section which exhibit tropical specimens like butterflyfish or anthias from Indo-pacific regions and the Caledonian lagoon. The next tank is dedicated to Tahiti’s coral which develops in warm waters of 25°C and contains a rich sample of corals and banded butterflyfish and surgeonfish, happy representatives of the tropical fish families.
The fifth space, the biodiversity room, deals with the variety and mysterious aspects of submarine life. You will stumble upon twelve tanks treating fascinating themes like the mimicry tank where fish physically change to merge with their environment.
Reef aquarium
Next, let’s take a plunge into the Caribbean waters to admire angelfishes, labrums and plenty of other species swimming around in the warm waters of a 100 000 litres tank. The following room is the Lounge, a space comprising a cinema room big enough to sit 110 people. The program of movies and documentary films meets the themes of the aquarium. Here France’s second largest tank contains 560 000 litres of water and is the decor of an aquatic ballet formed of bar jacks. The depth of the north Atlantic opens up in front of you in the eighth zone which aims to reproduce the fishing areas of St Pierre et Miquelon.
"Tank of Hugs"
The familial stroll continues and there comes the children’s favourite : the bassin caresses, or petting tank. It gives them opportunity to touch and feed fish, mostly carps, in order to get closer to understanding this enigmatic world. After that, it is time to deal with more serious matters and we come across the sharks tunnel. Carefully walking under this “ceiling” of water, we raise our eyes to see one of these big fishes whisk away. The trip is coming to an end and a last exotic vision awaits us in the only tropical fresh water tank, which represents the conditions of a tropical forest river in Guyana filled with angelfishes and silver dollar fishes.
An ideal family activity, don’t be surprised if the huge screens and cinema rooms make the visit a little noisy, the interactive and visual side will nevertheless be successful amongst children who will be filled with wonder in front of the 10 giant screen and for adults, this is only a drop in the ocean. In addition to the aquariums, everyone will learn while having a good time through the many activities, animations, films and workshops proposed throughout the visit for a nicely packed day of discovery.
By Alice Cannet
Published : April 29, 2010
Photo credit : © Cinéaqua
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