Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead — live webcam online

Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead — a marine story on Long Island

At the eastern end of Long Island, in the town of Riverhead, New York, lies the Long Island Aquarium — a place where visitors meet marine creatures from around the world. The facility opened in 2000 at 431 East Main Street and has since become one of the region's key attractions. In 2025, the aquarium celebrates its 25th anniversary, having grown into a major center for marine education and biodiversity conservation with over 100 exhibits.

The Long Island Aquarium is known not only to tourists but also to TV viewers — it was featured in Season 5 of the television show The Apprentice and in the "Fish" and "Penguins" episodes of the series Elmo's World. The second webcam allows you to see part of this exhibit in real time, without leaving your home.

Coral Reef: the underwater world in detail

The centerpiece of the broadcast is a 20,000-gallon (76,000-liter) coral reef exhibit, which is one of the largest living coral tanks in the Western Hemisphere. This is not just an aquarium with fish, but a full-scale imitation of a natural reef ecosystem spanning 30 feet, featuring several characteristic zones: back reef, reef wall, terrace, and crest.

Inside the tank, a complex structure of coral formations, rock outcrops, and algae thickets has been recreated. Among them swim tropical fish of various species and colors — yellow, blue, striped — creating the kind of palette that is usually accessible only to divers. The aquarium lighting enhances the underwater atmosphere, allowing you to distinguish the finest details of the corals and the behavior of the fish.

Long Island Penguins: African inhabitants of a northern aquarium

In addition to the coral reef, significant attention is drawn to the penguins. The aquarium is home to African penguins, also known as jackass penguins or "donkey penguins" — a name they received because of their characteristic call, resembling a donkey's bray. These birds are native to the southern coast of Africa, and keeping them in New York conditions requires special climate control and care.

The African penguin is classified as endangered. Many aquariums participate in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) under the auspices of the AZA to conserve the species, and the Long Island Aquarium is among the institutions working on the future of these birds. Visitors can take part in the 30-minute Penguin Encounter program, where they can meet an African penguin, gain access to the Penguin Pavilion, and observe the bird care process from the inside.

History and significance of the aquarium

The Long Island Aquarium opened in 2000 in Riverhead, New York, at 431 East Main Street. Over 25 years of operation, it has grown into a large-scale center with over 100 exhibits. In addition to the coral reef and penguins, there is a 120,000-gallon shark tank where visitors can dive with sharks, as well as a butterfly exhibit and many other interactive zones.

Riverhead is a small town on the north shore of Long Island, historically associated with fishing and agriculture. The appearance of the aquarium here became a turning point for the local tourism industry, transforming the town into a destination for family vacations and educational trips.

What you can see on the camera

The online camera broadcasts the indoor aquarium with the coral reef in real time. In the frame are tropical fish of various species and colors: yellow, blue, striped — swimming among diverse coral structures, algae, and rock formations. The aquarium lighting creates an underwater atmosphere, emphasizing the colors and textures of the reef. The camera is aimed at the underwater world of the aquarium, allowing you to observe the behavior of the coral reef inhabitants live.