By recreating the environments found beneath the ocean’s surface, Aquariums can be invaluable for education and research. There are tens of thousands of marine species that most of us would never normally be able to see in real life, and the ability to do so can inspire and encourage new generations to care for the planet’s oceans, and take care to preserve these animals for generations to come.

Of course, keeping large aquatic creatures in fair conditions requires huge tanks to be built, and you won’t believe how big some actually are. It’s time to see the underwater world like never before, as we countdown the top 15 largest aquariums in the world.