Biosphere2....where the surf meets the turf!

The rain forest in Biosphere2

Yes, there is a rain forest in the Biome! It is monitored and connected to the actual temperature and conditions of the Amazon.  When it rains in the amazon it rains in the Biome. When the temperature fluctuates in the Amazon it is automatically adjusted in the Biome. AMAZING!  It was not raining while we were there.

Exterior of the rain forest

The lung

The plants and the ocean (yes, there is an ocean in the Biosphere2) produce the oxygen but you still need lungs. This is one of two lungs that breath for the structure.

The apartment

Each of the 8 researchers had their own small apartment.

An amazon rain forest complete with bugs and mosquitoes, a piece of the ocean from San Diego complete with fish, kelp, sand etc., different desert landscapes and a Savannah are just some of the unique individual Biomes in Biosphere2.  If you aren't familiar with the experiment you really ought to Google it as I just couldn't do it justice.  

Our tour lasted just short of 2 hours and was everything I had hoped it would be.  I have been interested in this since it's inception back in 1984 when they started building this unique complex. Completely sealed from the outside world, 8 lucky researchers were chosen to live in this amazing environment for 2 years. These 8 vegetarians grew all of their own food.  They also had chickens, goats for milk and cheese, etc. (and  something else which I can't remember)which they eventually ate as they found they weren't getting enough calories. I used to imagine what it would be like to have been one of those scientists and had always hoped to see this amazing creation. It was just as I had imagined.  If you ever find yourself in Tucson...this is a must see.

Tomorrow our friends and family will be leaving us.  It has been fun to share the fist part of our trip with them.  We wish them fair winds and calm seas on their travels home. No....wait....that was from our other life at sea.  We wish them whatever the equivalent of that is to land travelers. Good bye John, Lora, Rick and Colleen.  We'll miss you guys......