The aquarium's largest tank is built into the landscape, allowing natural light and tidal movement to influence the environment.
The facility features an outdoor area where visitors can directly touch marine life like starfish and crabs in shallow pools.
The aquarium provides a home to harbor seals that reside in an open-air enclosure overlooking the ocean.
It serves as a research and educational center focusing on the life cycles of Atlantic salmon.
The architecture is designed to mimic the surrounding coastal topography, blending the indoor exhibits into the rocky shoreline.
Atlanterhavsparken is one of Northern Europe's largest seawater aquariums, situated directly on the Atlantic coastline in Ålesund. The facility utilizes a continuous flow of natural seawater pumped directly from the ocean to supply its tanks. Its design integrates the aquarium into the rugged coastal landscape, featuring large outdoor habitats exposed to the elements. The main tank, titled 'The Atlantic Ocean Pool,' holds 4 million liters of water and reaches depths of up to 4 meters. It houses massive shoals of cod, halibut, and other North Atlantic fish species. The park maintains a focus on the marine biology of the Norwegian fjords and the open sea. Visitors can observe the daily feeding of seals and otters in dedicated outdoor enclosures. The complex is carved into the natural rock of the Tueneset peninsula.
The viewing window of the main Atlantic Ocean pool offers a dramatic perspective of the large fish against the backdrop of the sea.
Check the daily program at the entrance for feeding times, as these are the best opportunities to see the animals active.
Bring a windproof jacket, as the outdoor sections are directly exposed to sea breezes and Atlantic weather.
Allocate time to walk the coastal path surrounding the aquarium for panoramic views of the ocean and the Stad peninsula.
Do not rush through the indoor exhibits to reach the outdoor area, as the deep-sea tanks contain rare cold-water species not visible elsewhere.
Do not touch the glass in the tanks or tap on exhibits to avoid stressing the marine life.
