Shark Reef Aquarium, Las Vegas

Shark Reef Aquarium, situated in Paradise, Nevada, on the renowned Las Vegas Strip, is a public aquatic facility owned by Mandalay Bay Resort. Its establishment in collaboration with the Vancouver Aquarium led to its grand opening on June 20, 2000. On average, the aquarium attracts approximately 900,000 visitors each year.

The facility is an impressive 105,000 square feet (9,800 square meters) ancient temple-like underwater design. It houses the largest aquarium on the Las Vegas Strip, including a captivating shark tunnel and a sunken ship-themed viewing area. The highlight is the massive 1,300,000 US gallon (4,900,000 liters) shipwreck tank, the third largest in North America, with endangered marine species like green sea turtles, Galapagos sharks, blacktip reef sharks, sand tiger sharks, and green sawfish.

During its initial launch, Shark Reef boasted the sole indoor shark exhibit on the U.S. west coast, showcasing ten distinct species of sharks. Other captivating creatures included small stingrays, horseshoe crabs, moon jellyfish, and water monitors. The presence of well-fed sharks ensured a harmonious coexistence with the other fish species within the aquarium.

By 2007, the aquarium expanded its collection to encompass 15 shark species. In 2008, Shark Reef received a Komodo dragon from the Miami Zoo, with additional Komodos introduced in 2013. The facility also introduced a diving program, enabling visitors to experience swimming with the awe-inspiring sharks. A separate program allowed guests to participate in feeding a diverse array of animals.

Presently, Las Vegas Aquarium is home to 2,000 animals, including sawfish, giant rays, endangered green sea turtles, piranha, jellyfish, rare golden crocodiles, and — sharks.