Souvenir Medal Monnaie de Paris 2024 - Nausicaá - Loggerhead Turtle (62)

Nausicaá, le Centre National de la Mer, located in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, is one of Europe's largest aquariums and the fifth-largest globally. Opened in 1991, it features a variety of exhibits, including the "Des Rivages et des Hommes" exhibition and the "Voyage en Haute Mer" exhibit, which boasts a 10,000 m³ tank replicating the ecosystem of Malpelo Island. With over 800,000 visitors annually, it is a major tourist destination. Nausicaá is also dedicated to marine conservation, including being the largest European coral breeding center. In recent years, it has collaborated with the French Agency for the Environment (Ademe) to raise awareness about ocean preservation. A planned expansion, funded by the European Commission, will focus on the Arctic and Subarctic and is set to open in 2028.