Land is the secure ground, while the sea's like real life: the outside, the unknown. - Stephen Gardiner

There's a great mystery around the deep sea's life. It fascinates and scares us at the very same time.

We can't breath down there and we can't hardly see anything. It's dark and cold, but still it protects a fascinating secret that attracts us like a magnet.

I've always felt both respect and curiosity for the sea. When I went on a scuba dive for the very first time it was as if we had landed on a different planet. The beauty of the underwater world is absolutely stunning, and once you've witnessed it with your own eyes, you feel attached to it in a special way.

Now if we don't have the time or possibilities to go on a dive by ourselves, then there are other options to explore life at the shore, in the shallows and in the deep sea.

Come with me on a ride into a different world!

@surfermarly visiting Poema del Mar, one of the most spectacular aquariums in the world

Poem of the Sea

Poema del Mar (Spanish: Poem of the Sea) is the name of one of the most impressive aquariums in the world.

Lucky me, it was recently built at the harbour of Las Palmas (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands), which means that it's just a stone's throw away from my home.

Before I discovered the Steem blockchain and started to earn money as a blogger, I was employed at the company that owns the aquarium. Now it was really exciting to visit the finished attraction, since I had only seen it on the architect's plans so far.

I can tell you that everything I saw completely exceeded my expectations!

Poema del Mar is definitely one of the most spectacular attractions we have on Canary Islands.

@surfermarly standing in front of the largest tank in the aquarium

It leaves you speechless, and then it converts you into a storyteller

On a total building area of 12,500m² you'll find more than 2,000 species from all over the world, shown in their natural habitat and own eco-system.

The core of the aquarium is surely the exhibition called 'deep sea' (see picture above). The front window is the largest curved window that has ever been manufactured in the world, a methacrylate of 140 tons of weight, 36 meters long and 7 meters high.

Now thanks to the curvature, getting closer to the window feels as if you were walking into the tank. Really stunning!

You may wonder how they got it in there?! Check the making-of video on the website to learn more: www.poema-del-mar.com.

I don't lie if I tell you that I was standing two hours in front of the window and still discovered something new.

Meeting one of the sharks...

Being a nature lover automatically converts you into an environmentalist

One of the things I appreciate most about Poema del Mar is the philosophy behind.

After Loro Parque (no. 1 zoological park in the world*) and Siam Park (no. 1 waterpark in the world*), Poema del Mar is the third attraction of the same group that fulfills both the requirements for a first class tourist attraction and an environmentally sustainable project.

As a surfer I really know how important it is to take care of our environment.

As a part of its commitment to the environment, Poema del Mar will also firmly commit to renewable and non-polluting energies contributing to the development of sustainable tourism in Gran Canaria and because of that the facilities are equipped with the most modern filtering, purification and desalination water systems around the world. - Blog Poema del Mar

On your tour through the aquarium you'll be constantly reminded of the importance of environmental protection, not only with regards to renewable energy but also in matters of conservation.

The group's own foundation Loro Parque Fundación, an organization with more than 20 years of experience in the development of research, education and conservation activities throughout the world. During the past 24 years the Foundation has carried out more than 100 conservation projects in 30 countries around the world, and has dedicated more than $17,000,000 USD to the preservation of the most threatened animal species.

If you want to learn more about it, check out their website: www.loroparque-fundacion.org/en.

Being inside this green temple makes you feel pretty alive!

@surfermarly exploring Poema del Mar with her best friend Sandra

It's a natural and sustainable playground for all age groups

The aquarium is divided into three main areas: the jungle, the coral reef and the deep sea.

Like that you're gradually exploring the different natural habitat close to and down inside the sea. It's as if you were blazing a trail through the jungle until you reach the shore of the sea and then dive down deeper.

We spent about four hours inside and could've stayed even longer. If you ever planned to visit the aquarium, you'd better save the whole day for the experience.

No matter if you're a local living on Canary Islands or a tourist coming from abroad, visiting Poema del Mar is a must

No, I don't get paid for this (anymore) :-) As always I just share the very best with you.

Have a great day, steemians!

Much love,
Marly -

Thanks for your valuable time!
This blog was launched at the end of July 2016
aiming to provide stories for open-minded
people who enjoy living on the edge of their lives,
stepping out of comfort zones, going on adventure,
doing extreme sports and embracing the new.
Welcome to the too-much-energy-blog!

PS: Nature is awesome, just open your eyes!

Original content.