While the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics inspired an ambitious makeover of Rio de Janeiro, one project is still underway but almost completed: South America's biggest aquarium.

Some claim it will be as impressive as this skeleton of a twenty-ton humpback whale that ran aground in Rio's coast two years ago. And it seems it will.

Rio's marine aquarium , or "AquaRio," built in a 26 thousand square meter warehouse, wants to set a record in South America, when it opens to the public in November.

Full sot - Fernando Menezes , Director of Operations, AquaRio --Portuguese needs English Overdub) " There is no other aquarium like this one here in Rio de Janeiro. We are already the largest in South America and will fight to become the biggest in Latin America."

Rio's marine aquarium , or "AquaRio," built in a 26 thousand square meter warehouse, wants to set a record in South America, when it opens to the public in November.

The 37 million dollar private funded project will house some 8,000 marine animals from 350 species. One third of them are already getting adapted. 

And the water here is pristine compared to the Rio's highly contaminated Guanabara Bay, the criticized sailing venue of the 2016 Olympics.

"Our goal here is that the animals will live here from five to thirty years, well fed , and in the best controlled quality water. You can be sure they will live better here than in the Guanabara Bay," said Fernando Menezes, director of Operations, Aquario.

The 4.5 million liter aquarium aims to raise environmental awareness, but it is also expects to become one of Rio's main tourist attractions , with 28 tanks spread over five floors.

This is the aquarium's biggest tank. It holds 3. 5 million liters of water and it is here where visitors will be able to dive among fish, rays and even sharks.

For those who prefer to remain dry, a clear acrylic underwater tunnel, seven meters deep, will grant a 180 degree view of all sorts of sea creatures. 

A much awaited project, that was due to open in 2015 - Rio's first aquarium is now expecting to receive some 8,000 visitors a day.