South Carolina Aquarium

The South Carolina Aquarium opened on Charleston Harbor in May 2000, and its centerpiece, the Great Ocean Tank — 385,000 gallons and 42 feet deep, the deepest aquarium tank in North America — holds sharks, sea turtles, and more. More than 5,000 animals occupy dozens of exhibits spanning two stories, representing species from South Carolina's mountains to its coast. The on-site Sea Turtle Care Center is a working hospital: sick and injured turtles come in, get treated, and go back to the water.