Biosphere 2

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Biosphere 2

Postby Sparkle » Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:05 pm

What a fabulous place. I can't say enough good about it. It cost 20.00 per person. We had bought a book with 2 for 1 coupons in it, many of them for other places we want to go. It was 15.00 for the book, then 20.00 for the pay for 1. We are splitting the costs of course. Then tomorrow we will use a couple more of the coupons. This is at the gate.
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The entrance.
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Some exterior views. The place was spotless. Well maintained.
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Inside there were desert, savannah and other biomes
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This was the beach
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The rainforest.
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Now let me try and explain what this is. It's like a lung that breathes. It was an enormous circular room. Above our heads was a floating metal disk weighing something like 5 tons. It was surrounded by a rubber baffle like thing. We had entered through a long tunnel. The warm air and the cool air are exchanged down this tunnel. The tour guide opened a door to the outside world and we watched this huge metal disk begin to descend. When we exited through the door it was like jumping out of an aeroplane as the air rushed into the dome. This is a horrible explanation. Maybe Beth can do better. But it was the most impressive thing I've ever seen.
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About 20 years ago they had 8 people living for 2 years in the Biosphere. They don't call it a failed experiment because they learned so much about what todo and what not to do. They discovered they didn't have enough trees to keep the oxygen levels up. That they needed more protein in their diet. They were tired all the time because of these deficiences and got cranky. These are some of their rooms, a meeting room, the kitchen and a living room with bedroom upstairs.
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I hope you enjoyed this tour as much as we did and strongly recommend a visit here. There are still many ongoing experiments. One of them being finding out why the Pinon Trees in this area are dying. They have found out that while they can withstand drought, infestations with the Pine Bark Beetle, becuase of a 4 degree rise in temperatures lately, it has just tipped them over the edge. They seal of areas and deprive them of water, or heat, or light and see the effects. Not only on the plants, but the bacterias that live in the soil.
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Re: Biosphere 2

Postby Bethers » Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:17 pm

Sparkle and I are in total agreement about Biosphere 2 - it was fabulous. I had read a lot about the original project when it was happening, and the problems, etc - but people who are it's naysayers don't understand how big a project it was and what was learned from it. The intentions of the original project were for learning to live in space - and after the Cold War, this wasn't so important, so with the problems the people had, Biosphere 2 took a changed approach.

For those who might have tried to visit it during some years - it WAS privately owned entirely and tours were not done of it all. In fact, some didn't want them. But then Columbia University got involved and that's when it really changed to the direction it is today. Columbia, being in NY, found it awful distant, so they bowed out - and today it's owned by a private group and the University of Arizona. And some of what they are still learning is amazing.

The room Sparkle said I might help with an explanation - that was the way in and out when it was airtight - it no longer is. But it worked as it did to keep the atomospheric pressure, etc. So that ceiling would lower when the door was opened and go back up when closed.

The entire place is a learning experience. We thought we'd be there about an hour - we were there several. Oh, and there is an area that has aquariums, which showed me things I've never seen after being in many, many different aquariums. So neat. If any of my aquarium shots turned out better than Sparkle's, I'll post - she didn't because she didn't like hers - often the case in those.

Like Sparkle, I highly recommend seeing this if anywhere in the area. Of course, it helps if you're interested in science, too.
Beth
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Re: Biosphere 2

Postby avalen » Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:34 pm

ohhhhh, I'm THRILLED to know its still open for tours, thats looks like a fabulous
afternoon. I will definately put that on my budget and go check it out sometime soon.
Thanks so much for posting those pictures.
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Re: Biosphere 2

Postby oregontocal » Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:38 pm

Looks like I left Tucson too soon. Definitely need to go back. This looks great!
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Re: Biosphere 2

Postby Liz » Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:27 pm

I saw a TV documentary about the living experiment several years ago....very fascinating place, and well worth your bargain admissions.
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Re: Biosphere 2

Postby snowball » Wed Nov 11, 2009 11:05 pm

are you guys in Tuscan? Check out the phooy can't think of the name of it Museum something out doors it's really good
that looked really interesting was it in Tuscan or Phoenix?
have fun
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Re: Biosphere 2

Postby bluepinecones » Wed Nov 11, 2009 11:47 pm

Good little tour. Thank you. I too remember following the first experiment and start up of #2. Did not know it was open to visitors.
Weren't the Canadians planning something similar not too long ago. If so, you might get to visit that one on your way to or from Alaska adventure.
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Re: Biosphere 2

Postby Sparkle » Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:18 am

Okay, I'll check out the phooy museum and also find out about the Canadian experiment. I love this stuff.
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Re: Biosphere 2

Postby AlmostThere » Thu Nov 12, 2009 10:04 am

Wow, totally different place from when I was there!! At that time none of the climate rooms were working (actually nothing was working), and were over grown with allot of dead plants/trees etc. The grounds were all overgrown as well. I think we paid $6 just to walk around the place and peek into the windows. I'm so happy something is being done with it as it is an exciting idea, and perhaps one day may be necessary. Thanks for sharing.
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Re: Biosphere 2

Postby asirimarco » Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:35 am

Wow really neat place. We've passed by there many times and I always wondered about it. Next time we'll stop for sure.
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Re: Biosphere 2

Postby Pooker » Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:58 am

Beth and Sparkle - I think Sheila is talking about the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum outside of town. It is worth a visit. And you can tour the Old Tucson Studios on the way. A lot of westerns were filmed there. Randy Travis was filming something the last time I was there!

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Re: Biosphere 2

Postby Sparkle » Thu Nov 12, 2009 1:01 pm

Today was laundry day. Then the last shower 'cause we're going to be boondocking again. Then once we get settled in I'll unhitch and we are going to visit some neat places.
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Re: Biosphere 2

Postby BirdbyBird » Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:21 pm

Thanks for the tour...
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Re: Biosphere 2

Postby Bethers » Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:17 pm

I think that's where she means also - and is on our list of go sees. I was there a long time ago and definitely intend to go back. As Sparkle says, we have a whole list. And now that we are settled into a great boondocking location for the duration of our visit in Tucson - we're ready to see everything.
Beth
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Re: Biosphere 2

Postby oregontocal » Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:41 pm

Bethers wrote:I think that's where she means also - and is on our list of go sees. I was there a long time ago and definitely intend to go back. As Sparkle says, we have a whole list. And now that we are settled into a great boondocking location for the duration of our visit in Tucson - we're ready to see everything.


Are you boondocking at the great spot off Ajo Road, by any chance?
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