Kuroshio Sea - Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Kuroshio Sea Facts:

• Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (沖縄美ら海水族館) located in Okinawa, Japan.
• Is the world's second largest aquarium behind the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.
• Main tank is called the "Kuroshio Sea" holds 7,500-cubic meters (1,981,290 gallons) of water.
• World's second largest acrylic glass panel, measuring 8.2 meters by 22.5 meters with a thickness of 60 centimeters.
• Among the many species of fish are whale sharks and manta rays.

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Mekong River (Asian Geography)

Mekong River System:

The Mekong River system is one of the most productive in the world. Over one thousand species of fish in these waters. More large fish occur in this river than in any other river in the world.

Mekong River Facts:

• One of the world’s major rivers.
• 10th-longest river in the world.
• 7th-longest river in Asia.
• Estimated length is 4,350 km (2,703 miles).
• The river comes from the Tibetan Plateau.
• Runs through the following countries - China's Yunnan province, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
• Extreme seasonal variations in flow, the presence of many rapids & waterfalls make this river difficult to navigate.
• Known in Thai languages as the "Mae Nam Khong".
• Home of the Giant Mekong Catfish.
  

Image Credit - Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

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Mekong Giant Catfish (Pangasianodon gigas)

Mekong Giant Catfish (Pangasianodon gigas):

The Mekong Giant Catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) is a species of catfish native to the Mekong River basin.

Mekong Giant Catfish Facts:

• Anadromous fish.
• May weigh over 600 lbs.
• Represented in ancient art from the region.
• Very susceptible to overfishing.
• Only one spawning location in far northern Thailand.
• Fishing for the Mekong giant catfish is illegal in the wild in Thailand, Laos, & Cambodia.
• Now seen in the Bangkok River.
• Must reach 50 – 70 kg in size before it is able to breed.
• The largest known specimen, recorded in 1981, was a female measuring 2.7 m (~ 9 feet) long & weighing 293 kg (646 lb).

A National Geographic Documentary about the Mekong Giant Catfish is shown below.



Image of Mekong Giant Catfish - osanpo, (cc)

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