The Biodome was somewhere I have been wanting to visit for a while, but one of those - many - things we have never got around to. Until now. That's the great thing about visitors - you do touristy things which tend to get overlooked once in the midst of everyday tasks and routines.
It could have been interesting, as I mistakenly thought the Biosphere; a museum about the St Lawrence River and situated at Parc Jean-Drapeau, was the Biodome. Luckily I checked the map before we ventured outside and was therefore saved from taking my friends to the wrong thing.
Located near the Botanical Gardens and the Olympic Park; housed in a building originally built as a velodrome for the 1976 olympics, the Biodome (!) is divided into four ecosystems in the Americas:
Tropical Forest - based on a South American rainforest
Laurentian Forest - based on North American wilderness
Saint Lawrence Marine eco-system - an estuary habitat modelled on the Gulf of St Lawrence
Polar area - divided into the Arctic and Antarctic
Laurentian Forest - based on North American wilderness
Saint Lawrence Marine eco-system - an estuary habitat modelled on the Gulf of St Lawrence
Polar area - divided into the Arctic and Antarctic
It could have been a messy trip - note to self to check if there are birds in the tree above you before you stand and stare at something else - luckily the Scarlet Ibis poo fell just in front of my nose rather than right on my head.
From sloths sleeping in the tops of very tall trees, to colourful birds flying around; tamarins to fish; there was something every direction you turned.
From the hot and humid rainforest, we passed into cooler North America, home to, amongst others, and otter and a couple of beavers!
Then we saw the Canadian Lynx, who would have given Albie a run for his money!
After a visit under water; we emerged to be greeted by Puffins and other birds native to the Labrador Coast:
and then we strolled onto the Antarctic, and the Penguins...
...who I have to admit, were my favourite animal there and therefore took up many photo opportunites
They appeared quite happy to pose.
If you are ever in Montreal, it is well worth a visit - just head in the direction of the Olympic park rather than the river...!!