At over 50 feet tall, the AquaDom aquarium in Berlin's Radisson Blu hotel was the world's largest free-standing cylindrical aquarium, with 264,000 gallons of water and 1,500 fish of dozens of species. An elevator ride through the center of the tank was a must-see for guests and tourists alike. From balconies throughout the central courtyard, it was possible for visitors to gaze upon a beautiful tableau of tropical marine life.
Note the repeated emphasis on the word "was."
The popular attraction burst early this morning, sending glass, water, and fish crashing through the lobby. Two people were injured in the collapse of the habitat. The majority of the 1,500 fish were killed by the disaster (originally reported as all of them, though it seems some were saved). It's one of the most massive zoo or aquarium disasters that I've heard of (even though it doesn't take place in a conventional zoo or aquarium), maybe not tugging the heartstrings quite as poignantly as the primate house fire at Krefeld, but certainly on a much larger scale. I generally feel that only aquariums - with their huge collections entirely dependent on life support - can experience tragedies of this proportion.
I'm glad that human damage was as limited as it was, though it is very tragic that so many creatures were lost in one tragic swoop, and I certainly feel for the caretakers of the beautiful animals. The building is closed pending an investigation of structural damage. No word yet on whether or not this unique habitat will be replicated, though frankly, I doubt it.
Berlin's giant AquaDom hotel aquarium containing 1,500 fish explodes
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