Georgia Aquarium is the largest by volume, but size depends on how you measure

The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta holds the title of largest aquarium in the world by total water volume — it contains 11.5 million gallons. That measurement has held since the aquarium opened in 2005. However, "biggest" can mean different things. If you measure by floor space or number of animals, other aquariums rank higher. The China Aquarium in Zhuhai, for example, covers more physical area. Understanding what "largest" actually means helps you know what to expect when you visit.

The Georgia Aquarium's size comes from its depth and tank design rather than sprawling floor space. The facility spans 550,000 square feet, but much of that space is taken up by the massive tanks themselves, particularly the Ocean Voyager exhibit that holds 6.3 million gallons alone. That single tank is larger than most complete aquariums worldwide.

Key Takeaways

  • Georgia Aquarium holds 11.5 million gallons of water, making it the largest aquarium by volume in the world since 2005.
  • The Ocean Voyager exhibit inside Georgia Aquarium contains 6.3 million gallons by itself and houses whale sharks and manta rays.
  • Other aquariums rank higher if you measure by floor space or total number of animals rather than water volume.
  • Georgia Aquarium's size comes from tank depth and design rather than from spreading across a larger building footprint.

How Georgia Aquarium's volume compares to other major aquariums

The second-largest aquarium by water volume is the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan, which holds 7.5 million gallons. That is still 4 million gallons less than Georgia. The third-largest is the Shanghai Aquarium in China with 5.9 million gallons. These numbers show a significant gap between Georgia and the rest — no other facility comes close to its total volume.

The reason Georgia Aquarium pulls so far ahead is the Ocean Voyager tank. This single exhibit is deeper and holds more water than entire aquariums in other cities. The tank is 203 feet long, 78 feet wide, and 33 feet deep. It takes a dedicated system just to maintain the water quality and temperature for the whale sharks and manta rays that live there.

What "biggest" means when comparing aquariums

Water volume is the standard measurement aquariums use when claiming the title of "largest," and it is the one Georgia Aquarium holds. However, visitors sometimes measure size differently. Some people care more about the number of exhibits or the total floor space they can walk through. Others want to know how many animals the facility houses.

The China Aquarium in Zhuhai covers 430,000 square feet of floor space, which is smaller than Georgia's 550,000 square feet, but it has more individual tanks and a different layout. The Monterey Bay Aquarium in California is much smaller by volume but is known for the depth and quality of its exhibits. Size alone does not determine what you will see or how long you will spend there.

The Ocean Voyager exhibit and what makes it so large

The Ocean Voyager is the centerpiece of Georgia Aquarium and the reason the facility holds the world record. The tank required 22 months of construction and uses a special acrylic panel that is 2 feet thick to withstand the pressure of 6.3 million gallons of saltwater. The exhibit is designed to mimic the open ocean and holds whale sharks, manta rays, and thousands of smaller fish.

Maintaining this tank requires constant attention. The facility uses a filtration system that processes the entire volume of water multiple times per day. The temperature, salinity, and chemical balance must stay within narrow ranges to keep the animals healthy. This level of infrastructure is part of what makes such a large volume possible — smaller aquariums cannot support the same depth of tank because the engineering costs and maintenance demands become impractical.

Other record-holding aquariums and their specialties

While Georgia Aquarium holds the volume record, other facilities hold different records. The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is known for its Kuroshio Sea tank, which is the second-largest by volume but is famous for its design and the way it displays fish behavior. The Monterey Bay Aquarium holds records for conservation work and research, not size. The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is the largest in the United States by number of animals, with over 12,000 creatures.

These distinctions matter if you are planning a visit. Georgia Aquarium is worth seeing for the sheer scale of the Ocean Voyager exhibit and the whale sharks. Other aquariums offer different experiences — smaller tanks with more detail, specialized exhibits, or a focus on local marine life. The "best" aquarium depends on what you want to see, not just on which one is biggest.

How Georgia Aquarium's record has held since 2005

Georgia Aquarium opened on November 23, 2005, and when ready became the largest aquarium in the world by water volume. Nearly 20 years later, no other facility has surpassed it. Several aquariums have been built or expanded since then, but none have matched the total volume. The record has remained stable partly because building a larger aquarium would require solving engineering problems that make the cost prohibitive.

The facility cost $290 million to build, which was a massive investment even for a major city. The ongoing costs of maintaining 11.5 million gallons of saltwater, keeping the animals healthy, and running the filtration systems are substantial. Most new aquariums built since 2005 have focused on other goals — better exhibits, more animals, or specialized research — rather than trying to beat Georgia's volume record.

What you will actually see when you visit

Knowing that Georgia Aquarium is the largest by volume helps set expectations, but the visitor experience depends on more than size. The facility has nine major exhibits beyond the Ocean Voyager. You can see beluga whales, sea otters, jellyfish, and tropical fish. The layout is designed so you move through different ocean zones — from the surface to the deep sea.

The crowds can be significant, especially on weekends and during school breaks. The sheer number of visitors means some exhibits feel crowded even though the tanks themselves are enormous. If you go on a weekday, you will have more space to move around and more time to watch the animals. The whale sharks in the Ocean Voyager are the main draw, and they are worth the visit — seeing a 40-foot whale shark in person is different from any photograph.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Georgia Aquarium bigger than the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium?

Yes. Georgia Aquarium holds 11.5 million gallons, while Okinawa Churaumi holds 7.5 million gallons. Georgia has been larger since it opened in 2005 and remains the largest aquarium in the world by water volume.

How much water is in the Ocean Voyager tank?

The Ocean Voyager holds 6.3 million gallons of saltwater. That single tank is larger than most complete aquariums in other cities. The tank is 203 feet long, 78 feet wide, and 33 feet deep.

What animals live in the Ocean Voyager?

The Ocean Voyager is home to whale sharks, manta rays, and thousands of smaller fish including tuna, jacks, and grouper. The exhibit is designed to mimic the open ocean environment where these animals naturally live.

Will I see the whale sharks if I visit Georgia Aquarium?

Yes, the whale sharks are in the Ocean Voyager exhibit, which is the main attraction at the facility. They are visible from multiple viewing areas, though crowds can be heavy during peak visiting times. Visiting on a weekday gives you better viewing opportunities.

How long does it take to see everything at Georgia Aquarium?

Most visitors spend three to four hours at the facility. You can move through faster if you focus only on the Ocean Voyager and main exhibits, or spend more time if you read all the information and watch the animals for longer periods.