Ray Reef

Ray Reef
An overview of Ray Reef
Sea World (Australia)
StatusOperating
Opening date14 January 2009 (2009-01-14)
ReplacedThrillseeker (1981–2002)
Sea World Eye (2006–2008)
Ride statistics
Attraction typeRay exhibit
DesignerSea World
Disabled access Wheelchair accessible

Ray Reef is a ray exhibit located at the Sea World theme park on the Gold Coast, Australia. The exhibit opened on 14 January 2009.

History

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Following the closure and removal of the Thrillseeker roller coaster in May 2002,[1] several proposals were made for the site. In 2005, a seal exhibit, aptly named Seal Rocks, was proposed for the area.[2] From 2006 to 2008 the site was home to the temporary Sea World Eye.[3][4] Following the removal of the Sea World Eye in 2008,[4] a hippopotamus attraction was proposed for the site.[5] In September 2008, work began on the site for a yet-to-be-named ray exhibit.[6] By October, the name of the exhibit was announced to be Ray Reef.[7] It was originally scheduled that the exhibit would open on Boxing Day 2008 (26 December 2008), however, a number of delays forced it to open on 14 January 2009.[8][9]

Exhibit

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Ray Reef consists of a large lagoon pool and a smaller pool which together are home to more than 100 rays.[9] The Ray Reef area is located under large shade cloths providing shade for guests and rays alike.[10] The whole lagoon is divided in two by a rock wall. The smaller pool contains smaller rays whilst the larger pool contains larger rays.[11] Species within the exhibit include eagle rays, bluespotted stingrays, estuary stingrays and giant shovelnose rays.[9] For a set fee, guests are able to purchase fish to hand feed the rays.[9][12][13] Circling the main lagoon are a series of educational billboards which provide a variety of information about rays and their environment.[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Marden, Duane. "Thrillseeker  (Sea World)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  2. ^ "Seal Rocks (Sea World)". Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  3. ^ "Sea World Eye (Sea World)". Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  4. ^ a b AAP (12 December 2007). "Sea World Eye to close on Gold Coast". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  5. ^ "Unknown Hippopotamus Attraction (Sea World)". Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  6. ^ joz (22 September 2008). "Ray Reef (Sea World)". Photo. Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  7. ^ Seipelt, Gavin (19 October 2008). "Ray Reef Logo". Photo. Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  8. ^ Seipelt, Gavin (26 December 2008). "Ray Reef Construction". Photo. Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  9. ^ a b c d Bedo, Stephanie (15 January 2009). "Stingrays wing it for a feed and fondle". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  10. ^ Seipelt, Gavin (2 February 2009). "Ray Reef". Photo. Parkz. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  11. ^ Seipelt, Gavin (7 February 2009). "Ray Reef". Photo. Parkz. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  12. ^ Jabour, Bridie (10 April 2009). "Theme parks brace for crowds". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  13. ^ Seipelt, Gavin (26 December 2008). "Ray Reef Construction". Photo. Parkz. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  14. ^ Sea World. "Ray Reef". MyFun. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
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