We leave the rivers and caves of the Edge of the Rainforest and step now into the Amazing Amazon! We are back in our botanical house as we are transported to the planet’s largest tropical rainforest with all manner of animals and plants all around us.
Our Amazing Amazon exhibit is a truly spectacular sight, home to species such as turtles, pacu, stingrays and catfish this zone also houses our giant monstera plant. The Amazon itself is one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth. Here at Bristol Aquarium you can get a taste of it and understand just what life is like in that part of the world.
Atmosphere
Our immersive boardwalk leads you past exotic plants and fish, underneath a trickling waterfall and through our towering monstera to our breath-taking, open-top Amazon display.
The water temperature is typically between 24-28 degrees here to keep our animals comfortable, while the air temperature is similar to that of a tropical, humid climate. Designed to recreate life in South America, it’s a warm welcome from the often wet and chilly British weather!
Our Amazing Amazon exhibit is part of the Urban Jungle we have here at Bristol Aquarium – which is the only giant botanical house within a UK aquarium! Linking these two together gives you the opportunity to see some interesting creatures and unique plants and flowers in one beautiful, nature-driven place.
Amazon river
At the heart of this zone is our Amazon river tank. Holding over 60,000 litres of freshwater, this mighty open-top display is home to a number of animals, all of whom are native to North and South America. In our efforts to bring you just a little slice of rainforest life, you can experience some of these species up close and in more detail than you would out in the wild. Every day at 2:30pm you can witness the feeding frenzy that happens here and learn more about turtles, pacu, catfish, stingrays and more.
Who lives here?
Mississippi map turtle
In the US, the name turtle is given to both marine turtles and semi-aquatic terrapins, but in the UK a turtle is known as an animal that spends all its time in water, and a terrapin spends time on land and water. With that in mind, the Mississippi map turtle would be called a terrapin in the UK. They live all along the Mississippi river, covered in markings and lines that look like contour lines of a map, which is how it gets its name. They are typically very timid and prefer to be in the water, being excellent swimmers even in strong currents.
Who is Amazing Amazon for?
Whether you’re keen to learn more about the rainforest climate and what makes it so biodiverse, or you’re longing for a better understanding of what makes a terrapin different from a turtle, Amazing Amazon has something for everyone. From budding botanists to those who just want to enjoy looking at some unique fish swimming around, both young and old will take something away from our display.
Sit and relax amongst the warm climate and wildlife, or follow the multi-level walkway and boardwalk back and forth until you’ve taken it all in. No matter what you’re hoping to get out of your visit to Amazing Amazon, we’re sure you’ll find it.