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Toronto’s Newest Tourist Attraction: Ripley’s Aquarium
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The base of CN Tower is already an entertainment hub for all with over 2 million people a year visiting the tower alone. According to a Toronto Star report, it looks like we are going to have a brand new state of the art aquarium joining other world class entertainment venues in Rogers Centre, Air Canada Centre, Metro Toronto Convention Centre and of course the tower itself.
The design reportedly has been agreed upon, and contracts will likely be signed this summer to start construction on the 150,000 square foot ‘fish tank’. Officials are looking to open the new attraction on July 2015 right before the Pan Am Games which will bring millions of tourists to the city (note that blogTO is reporting that the venue may be opened sometimes in 2013).
“There will be tens of thousands of different (marine) animals, and some features that will be unique to Toronto,” says Jim Pattison Jr., president of Ripley’s whose company is the main player in the deal. Visitors will get to walk through “the largest underwater tunnel in North America,” with various species of fish all around them. Just think of those angry sharks swimming right by you!
There is also going to be a room dedicated to live jellyfish with special lighting which Councillor Adam Vaughan hopes to create a “psychedelic visual experience.”
Financing is unclear at this point but it is believed that various levels of government will be contributing about $10 million each while Ripley will be investing about $110 million.
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