Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium - Oceans of Fun For a Drop in the Bucket

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Oceans of Fun, for a Drop in the Bucket

The Pittsburgh Aquarium

The Aquarium's theme is "Diversity of Water," and the exhibits flow neatly from one to another, showing an interrelated web of life that starts in our streams and rivers and ends in the open ocean. Exhibit areas are divided into separate ecosystems including Freshwater Fortune, Coral Reef, Coldwater Climates, Open Ocean, and Tropical Rainforests.

"The cool air of the headwaters, slow melting
snow gives way to gentle ripples gaining speed
and crushing force, before coming to rest in a
favorite stream, pond, lake, or river."
A Freshwater Fortune
- Overflowing with life

The journey begins close to home with an outside exhibit of the Allegheny river that includes bass and other local fish. Once inside the doors of the Aquarium, visitors immediately become aware that our local ecosystem is intimately connected with a vast number of aquatic ecosystems around the globe. North American fish in the Freshwater Gallery were strategically placed to be the first exhibits inside the aquarium. "We show people their own backyard and say, 'Start here,'" says Jim Prappas, the curator of Aquatic Life at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium." Relate to what's here. This is your environment. Now come see the diversity of water connected to your own backyard."

"In the shadow of glaciers, sometimes beneath a
protective layer of ice, species thrive in seawater
that's as cold as it can be without freezing."
Coldwater Climate
-Testing the limits

As you approach the Coldwater climate sign, a quick chill runs down your spine as you think about seawater as cold as ice. You literally become a part of the exhibit as you pass through an ice cold aquarium tank that circles from the floor over your head. While the fish haven't arrived in this tank yet, it will be a stunning chance to see coldwater aquatic life from all angles, and really be a part of their world. On the other side of this tunneled tank is the King Penguin exhibit, a favorite with children. The penguins just recently arrived home from a "vacation" in Galveston, Texas where they stayed at a zoo called The Rainforest at Moody Gardens, while their new home here in Pittsburgh was under construction. The tank has both above and below ground viewing so that you can watch the cute little tuxedoed birds frolic in the water and waddle on land. Children always have fun waddling around in imitation!

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Albrecht Powell
Pittsburgh Guide

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