Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee is to open a new multi-million dollar penguin enclosure in March.

The Penguin Playhouse exhibit is the costliest expansion at the aquarium - which is now in its 10th year - to date.

The enclosure, which will hold 30,000 gallons of temperature controlled salt water, will be home to African Black Footed Penguins.

Guests will be able to view the penguins from above and below water level, via an underwater tunnel, and the habitat will also have two wave machines and multiple spa jets to create continual water movement.

Ryan DeSear, general manager of the aquarium, said: “We’re really happy and proud that we’re able to debut this amazing exhibit during our 10th anniversary.

“We feel our Penguin Playhouse will soon become another iconic exhibit within the aquarium and will be at the top of a must-see list for visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains.”

Ripley’s vice president of husbandry, Joe Choromanski, helped to create the exhibit and added: “We have studied penguin exhibits from zoos and aquariums around the world, as well as their natural habitat, and we are building what we believe to be the most realistic, interactive and fun exhibit in existence.”

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is owned by Ripley’s Entertainment, the firm behind the Believe it or Not! brand.