Fehmarn Marine Centre
Compared with other seas, the Baltic Sea may not have much to offer in the way of spectacular sights. All the more reason to attract the many holidaymakers visiting the Baltic coast of Holstein with an attraction that offers a glimpse into the exotic underwater world. That is exactly what the Marine Centre on the Baltic island of Fehmarn, off the coast of Holstein, does.
Fortunately, visitors to the Marine Centre on Fehmarn encounter the legendary great white shark only as a five-metre-long taxidermied specimen. The other inhabitants, such as blacktip reef sharks, nurse sharks, sand tiger sharks and giant groupers, are very much alive. In recent years, the volume of water and the area of the aquariums have even been increased fivefold, making the Fehmarn Marine Centre one of the largest saltwater aquariums in Europe.
Korallenfische
Photo: © Meereszentrum Fehmarn
Reef Tunnel and Coral Garden
The highlight is a walk through the reef tunnel: 400,000 litres of water overhead, with only a—very thick, to be sure—pane of glass separating you from the predators of the sea. Rays, giant groupers and a hundred schooling fish inhabit the enormous tank, seemingly within arm’s reach. Those less adventurous can relax while admiring the colourful fish, amusing seahorses and living stones in the Coral Garden. Hundreds of colourful coral fish live in more than 40 display aquariums. An 18-metre-long whale shark cinema tells the true story of sharks. Younger visitors can explore a marine discovery trail for children.
Shark Worlds
The highlight of the visit is undoubtedly Shark Worlds. The large ocean aquarium holds a full three million litres of water. Here, visitors come face to face with “Sharkeline”, a splendid three-metre-long female sand tiger shark, who shares the aquarium with other large shark species, including a lemon shark, nurse sharks and blacktip reef sharks. In keeping with its presentation of these great marine predators, the Fehmarn Marine Centre also takes concrete action to protect them. It supports PRETOMA, an organisation in Costa Rica that campaigns against “finning”—the cutting off of sharks’ fins while they are alive.
The Fehmarn Marine Centre is one of the largest aquariums in Germany and ranks among the ten largest in Europe.
Gertrudenthaler Straße 12
23769 Burg/Fehmarn
Phone: (0 43 71) 44 16
Fortunately, visitors to the Marine Centre on Fehmarn encounter the legendary great white shark only as a five-metre-long taxidermied specimen. The other inhabitants, such as blacktip reef sharks, nurse sharks, sand tiger sharks and giant groupers, are very much alive.
The highlight is a walk through the reef tunnel: 4,000,000 litres of water overhead, with only a—very thick, to be sure—pane of glass separating you from the predators of the sea. Those less adventurous can relax while admiring the colourful fish, amusing seahorses and living stones in the Coral Garden. Hundreds of colourful coral fish live in more than 40 display aquariums. An 18-metre-long whale shark cinema tells the true story of sharks. Younger visitors can explore a marine discovery trail for children.
The Fehmarn Marine Centre is the largest aquarium in Germany and ranks among the ten largest in Europe.
Gertrudenthaler Straße 12
23769 Burg/Fehmarn
Phone: (0 43 71) 44 16
Photo: Fehmarn Marine Centre
