The last thing you expect to find in the desert-surrounded city of Las Vegas is an ocean that's home to more than 200 sharks and 2,000 other sea creatures, from colorful tropical fish to the rare golden crocodile. But visitors have come to expect the unexpected on the Strip, and because the neon-lit street already gives rise to a pyramid, a pirate ship battle and a volcano, perhaps the man-made Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay isn't so unusual after all. Shark Reef brings you up close and personal with the sea's most menacing creatures through closed, open-air and interactive exhibits. More than just a fancy aquarium, the Shark Reef focuses on education and conservation. Only man-made coral is used, and displays highlight efforts we can all make to preserve these natural habitats. Even the salt water is clean and efficient; made in-house by mixing imported salt with de-chlorinated tap water, two million gallons are filtered every hour.

The Big Thrills: The 14 exhibits at Shark Reef are rife with predators. In addition to 16 species of shark, you can find water monitors (a carnivorous lizard cousin to the Komodo dragon), piranha, eel and sea jellies. The five golden crocodiles are the only ones in the Western Hemisphere. The final chamber gives new meaning to the term "swim with the fishes." Visitors descend the depths of an acrylic tunnel where they're surrounded by marine life, including sharks up to 12 feet long held at bay by a mere six feet of glass. Handheld listening devices provide self-guided audio tours. The highlight is the Touch Pool, where bold visitors can reach into the water and touch baby sharks, manta rays and horseshoe crabs.

Best-Kept Secret: Glean fascinating tidbits by picking the brains of the naturalists on hand. For example, did you know that a piranha is actually a fresh water fish? Or that water monitors have been known to unearth dead bodies?

Tips and Hints: The exhibit doubles as a school, not just of fish, but for marine biology students of all ages from around the world. From fall to spring you risk running into field trip crowds, so it's best to schedule a visit later in the afternoon. The Border Grill's take-out stand near the Shark Reef entrance is a great quick stop for those with the munchies. Visitors can board a free monorail from the Excalibur or Luxor hotel-casinos. On hot days, bring something to fan yourself with -- the natural habitat doesn't have air-conditioning. -- David Hofstede and Jennifer Prosser (Photo: Courtesy of Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino)