Attractions operator Ripley Entertainment has confirmed that it will open a new aquarium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 2013.

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada will be a 12,500sq m (135,000sq ft) family attraction with more than 5.7m litres (1.5m gallons) of water and featuring marine and freshwater habitats from around the world.

The CA$130m (US$131m, 100m euro, £84m) aquarium will be third in Ripley's portfolio of attractions, following previous openings in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, US and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, US.

The Toronto aquarium is being built on land owned by Canada Lands Company, which is investing CAD10m in the venture.

The opening is part of the group's strategy to build more aquariums in tourist markets during the next 10 years.

Ripley Entertainment is owned by Jim Pattison Group.

For more details, click here for the home page of Ripley Aquariums.