The Ozeaneum is a futuristic wave embedded in the old building facades of Stralsund’s harbour island. With up to 1,000,000 visitors a year, the research museum is one of the most visited museums in Germany and one of three locations under the umbrella of the German Oceanographic Museum Foundation.
The centrepiece of the aquarium area is the ‘Open Atlantic’ tank. With a capacity of 2.6 million litres of salt water, the equivalent of 13,000 bathtubs, it is the largest aquarium in Germany. At 50 square metres, the panoramic screen is larger than most student flats and offers a spectacular view of schools of mackerel, eagle rays and smooth dogfish. The Oceanographic Museum is a pioneer in the breeding of smooth dogfish and has already had over 30 babies. To prevent newborn sharks from ending up as snacks for the other predatory fish in the tank, they have to be separated immediately after birth and raised outside the tank. Most of them are distributed to aquariums throughout Europe via the European breeding programme.
Opened in 2008, the Ozeaneum houses exhibitions and other aquariums on our native seas in addition to the large aquarium. Visitors can also visit the Giants of the Seas exhibition with real ocean giants: Face to face with the orange-sized eyes of the blue whale, it is possible to encounter original-sized blue, humpback and sperm whale sculptures here. The infamous 12-metre-long and up to 400-kilogram favourite prey of the sperm whales, the giant squid, can also be found here. The Ozenaeum not only exhibits a realistic model, but also one of the few well-preserved real specimens that can be scrutinised here.
The Ozeaneum is open daily from 09:30-17:00 between September and June. In the summer months of July and August, opening hours are extended until 19:00. Admission for adults is €18 (concessions €14). Children up to the age of 16 pay €8.
Photo: Ozeaneum Stralsund; Credits: Max Baum
