30 Apr 2015
World's first and only Shark Bridge debuts at Newport Aquarium
BY Tom Anstey
Newport Aquarium’s ‘Shark Bridge’ – a 75ft (22.8m) rope suspension bridge crossing the Kentucky aquarium’s 385,000-gallon shark tank – has opened to the public, offering the world’s first such attraction.
Developed over an exhibit which features North America’s largest group of scalloped hammerhead sharks, the V-shaped rope bridge, first announced in January, hovers inches above the shark-infested waters for intrepid guests to cross. The tank below features seven species of shark, four rare shark rays, multiple stingrays and more than 300 fish.
Cincinnati-based GBBN Architects and THP Limited designed and engineered the Shark Bridge respectively, with work starting in February and completed by mid-April.
“For our thrill-seeking guests who dare to cross, Shark Bridge is a breathtaking way to experience sharks like never before,” said Eric Rose, executive director at Newport Aquarium. “It’s an adventure that you can only get here.”
The endangered scalloped hammerheads – a new addition to the tank – were born last year at a stable breeding ground in Hawaii. Over time the juvenile sharks will triple in size, growing up to 14ft (4.2m) in length and more than 300 pounds in weight.
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