North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

The Aquariums were established in 1976 to promote an awareness, understanding, appreciation and conservation of the diverse natural and cultural resources of North Carolina’s ocean, estuaries, rivers, streams and other aquatic environments.  The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is a 68,000-square-foot (6,300 m2) facility located on the Outer Banks. The focus of the aquarium is the sealife and ecosystems in the waters of the Outer Banks as well as the weather that affects it. Galleries include, Coastal Freshwaters, Wetlands on the Edge, Hurricanes and Northeasters, Marine Communities, Close Encounters, Open Ocean, and Oceans Revealed: Powers of the Planet.