Opposite the ice-hockey stadium in the Olympiapark, visitors can dive in, dive under, swim away and resurface without even getting wet. The Sea Life Aquarium has been established in Munich for some years now and continues to enthuse both adults and children alike with over 10,000 animals of 150 species in over thirty clear and saltwater aquariums. On the way round the exhibition, visitors follow the flow of the water of the rivers and lakes in Bayern, along the Danube and the Black Sea right down to the Mediterranean.
The journey to the sea begins with the River Isar, whose source lies close to Mittenwald and Scharnitz and flows into the Danube near Passau. The replica of the river landscape reminds you of the beautiful mountains, moors and hills of the local countryside. Notable residents along this stretch of water such as Waller, Huchen, Sterlet and Waxdick are indicated.
The Danube ultimately flows into a marshy delta east of the Romanian city of Galaţi in the Black Sea. Certain corals and other small creatures such as anemones, rainbow fish or even the common prawn can be admired in their authentically recreated habitats in the underwater caves here. Fishes such as gilthead sea bream are able to swim uninterrupted with the flow of the river in an artificial pool.
In the next section, visitors find themselves in a Greek harbour. From the underwater perspective, a wooden pier is recognisable in the dim light. Dogfish, as well as various types of ray, such as the marble and thornback rays, float majestically through the tank. With a bit of luck, you might spot a freshly laid shark or ray egg on the base. Speaking of sharks – in order to encourage them to mate, soft rock is played twice daily. Alexander von den Driesch, Senior Aquarist at Sea Life in Königswinter, explains why: “It is still unknown to scientists whether sharks react to music. We want to find out whether their behaviour changes by playing music twice a day. Maybe then we’ll see some shark offspring at the Sea Life Aquariums.”
Not far from the coast, run down, wooden galleons lie on the sea bed. Visitors are led directly through the hull of a ship. Brazilian groupers, sea breams, and intriguing moray eels are plentiful around the rickety wreck. Jewel-anemones and sea urchins have settled on and inside the hull.
When they leave the shipwreck, visitors reach the open Mediterranean and with that the highlight of the exhibition: A ten-metre long glass tunnel running straight through the massive 400,000 litre water tank. Visitors can move like divers almost directly between the fish. Black tip reef sharks circle elegantly and seemingly weightlessly above them around a four-metre tall Trojan horse. Wrasses are also residents of the tank that makes breathtakingly close encounters with sea life possible.
by Dietmar Stanka
A Frederics serviced apartments service – short-term accommodation in Munich - boarding house Munich Schwabing and boarding house Munich Gern
| - Sealife |
Frederics -
furnished apartments in Munich >>
Apartment house
Hohenzollernplatz:
Hohenzollernplatz 7
80796 Munich
Apartment house
Dantestrasse:
Dantestrasse 18
80637 Munich
Office Frederics:
Ohmstrasse 18
80802 Munich
Telephone 089 21 18 70 50
Fax 089 21 18 70 55
