Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography is the center for public outreach for the University of California at San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The aquarium is home to over 3,000 animals from 380 species. Located on the hilltop, it offers magnificent views of the campus and the Pacific. It is organized around a central lobby that leads to various exhibits. The area occupies 64,157 square feet and all tanks together hold 175,000 gallons of seawater.

Among many fascinating exhibits, some stand out, such as the 60 tanks of the Hall of Fishes, holding hundreds of fish and invertebrates from the cold Pacific Northwest to the tropical Caribbean and Mexico and the Caribbean.

Another exhibit, Shark Reef, houses tropical reef sharks such as blacktip reef sharks, Port Jackson sharks, and brownbanded bamboo sharks. The Coral Reef exhibit features live coral and reef dwellers such as chambered nautilus, lionfish, and giant clams, while Feeling the Heat: The Climate Challenge illustrates the findings from the years of the Scripps Institute's research on climate change. More info

2300 Expedition Way, Scripps Institute, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92037, Phone: 858-534-3474, Map

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