By Rhonda Spears Bell
December 12, 2005

Atlanta recently became the home of the world’s largest fish tank when the Georgia Aquarium opened downtown November 23. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin was on hand for the grand opening festivities of the premier aquarium which boasts over 8 million gallons of fresh and marine water, 100,000 animals representing 500 species from around the globe, including whale sharks, the biggest fish on Earth - all in a 500,000 square foot facility.

Local leaders believe that the new aquarium will attract more than 2 million visitors a year, sparking a resurgence in downtown Atlanta not seen since the 1996 Olympic Games.

“All of this creates a critical mass for downtown that will move us to a new level of tourism. You add that to the sports venues we have, and it’s clear there is a new energy in the city. It brings jobs; it brings business,” Franklin said to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The Georgia Aquarium is the brain-child of Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus, who gave the $290 million facility to Atlanta.