L'Oceanogràfic, Valencia (must see)

Situated on the dry Turia River bed southeast of Valencia's city center, L'Oceanogràfic is a captivating oceanarium that showcases diverse marine habitats. This architectural marvel was collaboratively designed by Félix Candela, an esteemed architect, and structural engineers Alberto Domingo and Carlos Lázaro. It is an integral part of the renowned cultural complex known as the City of Arts and Sciences, and it officially opened its doors on 14 February 2003.

Spanning an impressive 110,000 square meters (1,200,000 square feet), the Oceanographic stands as the largest complex of its kind in Europe. Its massive water capacity, reaching 42,000,000 liters (11,000,000 US gallons), includes a dolphinarium with a volume of 26,000,000 liters (6,900,000 US gallons) and an ocean tank housing sharks, rays, and other fish with a capacity of 7,000,000 liters (1,800,000 US gallons).

Within this vast space, 45,000 animals from 500 different species find their home, encompassing sharks, penguins, dolphins, sea lions, walruses, beluga whales, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates. These creatures inhabit nine two-tiered underwater towers, each representing a significant ecosystem on Earth. Remarkably, the aquariums utilize seawater pumped from La Malva-Rosa beach.

The park is divided into ten distinct areas, offering visitors a diverse range of experiences. These areas include Mediterranean habitats, the Arctic oceans, islands, the tropics, the temperate seas, the Red Sea, a dolphinarium, an area dedicated to mangrove swamps and marshland, and a splendid garden boasting over 80 different plant species.

The Oceanographic's unique architectural structure features a steel-fiber reinforced concrete thin-shell design. Candela drew inspiration from the iconic hyperbolic parabola (hypars) shape of his earlier creation, the Los Manantiales Restaurant in Mexico City, which he designed back in 1958.

At present, the Oceanographic operates in partnership with the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, further enhancing its global connection and commitment to marine science and conservation.