The title of the world's largest aquarium sounds simple, but the answer changes depending on what you mean by “largest.”
A building can be enormous without having the most water. One aquarium may have the world's biggest single tank, while another may have a larger combined volume across dozens of exhibits.
For a straightforward comparison, total water capacity provides one of the clearest measurements.
By that standard, Chimelong Spaceship in Zhuhai, China, is currently at the top, with 75,350,969 litres of water. Its scale goes even further: the attraction contains the world's largest individual aquarium tank, holding more than 56.4 million litres.
That puts its main tank alone in a completely different category from the typical aquarium experience.
The second-largest facility on this list is SeaWorld Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, with more than 58 million litres of water. Its indoor marine attraction combines huge aquatic habitats with educational experiences and conservation-focused activities.
Then comes Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, also in Zhuhai, with approximately 48.75 million litres. Its enormous Whale Shark Aquarium accounts for nearly half of that total.
Singapore's former S.E.A. Aquarium, now known as Singapore Oceanarium, has historically contained more than 45 million litres. Its Open Ocean habitat alone holds more than 18 million litres, creating an unusually large underwater viewing experience.
Europe's largest entry is L'Oceanogràfic in Valencia, Spain, with approximately 41.6 million litres. Its appeal is different from attractions centered around one enormous tank because it represents multiple aquatic environments.
The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is the leading U.S. facility by total water volume, with more than 11 million U.S. gallons. When it opened in 2005, it briefly held the title of world's largest aquarium before being surpassed by larger facilities in Asia.
The list continues with the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium in Japan, Taiwan's National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Moscow's Moskvarium, and The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT.
One interesting point emerges from comparing them: there is no universal “largest aquarium” measurement.
If you rank by total water, Chimelong Spaceship leads. If you compare the largest individual tank, Chimelong Spaceship also holds the record. Rankings based on building size, animal collections, species numbers, or visitor attendance can look very different.
The enormous scale of these facilities also reflects the changing role of aquariums. Many now combine entertainment with marine research, education, animal care, conservation, and public awareness.
So, the next time you hear that an aquarium is “the biggest in the world,” ask one question:
Biggest by what measurement?
If the answer is total water capacity, the current leader is clear: Chimelong Spaceship, with more than 75 million litres of water.
Originally Published: The Manhattan Weekly
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