Cretaquarium
Main entrance view
35°19′58″N 25°16′57″E / 35.332685°N 25.282474°E / 35.332685; 25.282474
Date opened	18 December 2005 (2005-12-18)
Location	Gournes, Crete, Greece
Land area	1.600 m2
No. of animals	2,500
No. of species	250
Total volume of tanks	1,700,000 lt
Website	www.cretaquarium.gr

Cretaquarium (Greek: Ενυδρείο Κρήτης, Enidrio Kritis) or Thalassocosmos (Greek: Θαλασσόκοσμος, "sea world") is a public aquarium located near the town of Gournes in Crete, Greece, 15 km east of the city of Heraklion.

History

The Cretaquarium project was conceived by employees of the former Institute of Marine Biology of Crete (IMBC) to create the first large aquarium in Greece, as part of a marine park for research, education, culture and recreation. Its construction was co-financed by the European Investment Bank and the Greek state. Cretaquarium first opened on the site of the former USAF Iraklion Air Station near the town of Gournes in December 2005 and underwent a major expansion during the winter of 2008–9, when 25 new tanks were installed.

The aquarium is currently operated by the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, a public research institution. Its exhibits focus on the marine fauna of the Mediterranean region and include sea organisms from over 250 species in more than 60 tanks.

Gallery