CretAquarium (Thalassocosmos)
CretAquarium (Thalassocosmos) is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Heraklion audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~90 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type nature
- Suggested visit ~90 min
- Heraklion Heraklion guide
About CretAquarium (Thalassocosmos)
A modern Mediterranean sea aquarium at Gournes, built on a former American airbase, where sixty-two tanks and 1.8 million litres of seawater hold sharks, turtles and drifting jellyfish.
CretAquarium (Thalassocosmos) is a large public sea aquarium at Gournes, about 15 kilometres east of Heraklion. It opened in December 2005 on the site of the former American military base, the USAF Iraklion Air Station, and was substantially enlarged in the winter of 2008 to 2009 with twenty-five additional tanks. The aquarium is operated by the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research as part of the wider Thalassocosmos marine-science centre, so its displays double as a research and conservation facility.
In total it has sixty-two tanks holding around 1,800,000 litres of seawater, with the single largest tank containing roughly 600,000 litres. The tanks house about 1,500 marine animals of some 130 species, drawn mainly from the Mediterranean basin. Exhibits range from sharks and groupers to sea turtles, jellyfish and seahorses, presented along a route through the darkened, blue-lit halls of the building.
Did you know? The aquarium stands on the site of the former USAF Iraklion Air Station. Where an American military base once operated at Gournes, roughly 1,500 Mediterranean sea creatures now live behind glass.
How long should you spend at CretAquarium (Thalassocosmos)?
Plan about ~90 min at CretAquarium (Thalassocosmos). That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is CretAquarium (Thalassocosmos) worth visiting?
CretAquarium (Thalassocosmos) is one of the 20 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Heraklion, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Heraklion
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Hear the story of CretAquarium (Thalassocosmos)
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