Right next door to the Botanic Garden, the ABQ BioPark Aquarium opens onto saltwater worlds far from any desert. Inside, the aquarium exhibits Gulf of Mexico and South Pacific saltwater species from a variety of habitats — surf zone, shallow waters, coral reefs, open ocean and deep ocean. The highlight here is the 285,000 U.S. gal (1,080,000 L) shark tank, with its 38-foot (12 m)-wide, 9-foot (2.7 m)-high, 8-inch (200 mm)-thick acrylic viewing window.
Walk through and you will pass the South Pacific Gallery, where seahorses, pipefishes, and colorfully patterned reef fish share space. In the lobby the Rio Grande at Central Bridge exhibit gives you a chance to compare the fish that lived in the Albuquerque reach of the Rio Grande 100 years ago with those found today. If you want a closer encounter, the Shark/Ray Encounter offers a guided, up-close experience with bamboo sharks and stingrays.
The Albuquerque Biological Park is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Exhibits were designed as a themed path, with visitors starting at a fountain that depicts the headwaters. Ahead, the acrylic window frames whatever glides past it right now.