Albuquerque Biological Park
Encyclopedia
The Albuquerque Biological Park (or Albuquerque BioPark) is an environmental museum located in Albuquerque, New Mexico
. It contains four separate facilities:
The Albuquerque Biological Park is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(AZA).
The BioPark also operates a 36" narrow gauge railroad that connects these facilities.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
. It contains four separate facilities:
- Albuquerque AquariumAlbuquerque AquariumThe ABQ Biopark Aquarium, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States is a facility of the Albuquerque Biological Park and is located next door to the Rio Grande Botanic Garden. The ABQ Biopark Aquarium exhibits Gulf of Mexico saltwater species from a variety of habitats, including surf...
- 285000 gal ocean tank containing Gulf of MexicoGulf of MexicoThe Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
saltwater species from estuariesEstuaryAn estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
, surf zone, shallow waters, coral reefCoral reefCoral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
s, and oceanOceanAn ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
.
- Rio Grande Botanic GardenRio Grande Botanic GardenThe ABQ Biopark Botanic Garden is a botanical garden located located at 2601 Central Avenue NW in Albuquerque, New Mexico, beside the Rio Grande. The garden showcases plants of the Southwest and other arid climates, and includes a conservatory, formal themed gardens, and a demonstration garden...
- 36 acres (14.6 ha), including a 10000 square feet (929 m²) glass conservatoryGreenhouseA greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
housing plants from desertDesertA desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
and Mediterranean climate zones.
- Rio Grande Zoo - 64 acres (25.9 ha), with 2.5 miles (4 km) of paths and more than 250 species of exotic and native animals. Elephants, giraffes, camels, lions, tigers, snow leopards, polar bears, gorillas, chimpanzees, zebras, and seals can be found here, along with more unusual animals such as hyenas, white rhinos, and African wild dogs. There is a variety of birds, from storks and eagles to roadrunners.
- Tingley BeachTingley BeachTingley Beach is a recreational area in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, located south of Central Avenue on the east side of the Rio Grande. It is part of the Albuquerque Biological Park complex. The series of ponds, originally known as Conservancy Beach, was built during the 1930s by diverting water...
- fishing lake, model boating lake, picnic areas, narrow gauge railroad, and paths.
The Albuquerque Biological Park is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums was founded in 1924 and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.The AZA headquarters is located in Silver...
(AZA).
The BioPark also operates a 36" narrow gauge railroad that connects these facilities.