Chattanooga Times Free Press - ChattanoogaNow
REAL-TIME UNDERWATER ADVENTURE
How are you spending Labor Day weekend? At the lake? Grilling? Family reunion? Camping? Following are five ideas for family fun that won’t break the bank, but offer something different to do on your Labor Day weekend staycation.
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› For more information: https://www.tnaqua.org/planyour-visit/ticket-information/
About one week after the sturgeon moon, corals within the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Texas and Louisiana began to spawn.
A remotely operated vehicle named Yogi is on-site in the Gulf of Mexico to live-stream this spawn, and the Aquarium is showing its footage in the River Journey Auditorium so that visitors can witness the phenomenon in real-time.
“We’re very excited to be an educational partner with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration,” says Dr. Brooke Gorman, the Tennessee Aquarium’s director of science education. “Our Secret Reef exhibit models the Flower Garden Banks, so our guests have a lot of opportunities to learn about this special place.”
Aquarium guests can witness the natural processes that built up the Flower Garden Banks’ underwater ecosystem via a camera located more than 100 feet below the surface. Traveling to depths of nearly 500 feet, Yogi is beaming real-time discoveries via the internet to audiences around the world, including Aquarium guests.
The final leg of the expedition, today through Sunday, Sept. 1, will examine black corals around the periphery of the sanctuary. Researchers will be looking for any new black coral species while assessing the overall abundance and health of known black corals.
“After spending some time watching this expedition in real-time, guests can go next door to explore the Secret Reef exhibit. It is a model of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary where Yogi is right now,” says Thom Benson, Aquarium director of external Watch fish swim along Alderdice Bank, which was named after Robert Alderdice, founder of the Flower Garden Ocean Research Center, in the Tennessee Aquarium’s live stream from a remotely operated vehicle in the Gulf of Mexico. Alderdice Bank is an oval salt dome about 100 miles northeast of East Flower Garden Bank, which the Tennessee Aquarium’s Secret Reef is modeled upon. affairs.
“Four times each day, our scuba divers are in the exhibit having conversations with guests about the Flower Garden Banks and how we’re connected to the Gulf through the river that runs through our city,” he says.
Benson suggests if you want to complete a day of underwater adventure, head across the street to the Imax Theater, where “Great Barrier Reef 3D” is showing at 1 and 3 p.m.
CATCH THE DINO EXHIBIT BEFORE IT’S EXTINCT
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There’s only 10 days left to visit “Dinosaur Train: The Traveling Exhibit” before it moves on from the Creative Discovery Museum.
Pint-size paleontologists can learn about a T-Rex named Buddy who travels through time to discover more about dinosaurs. They can dress up and pretend to be a pteranodon or dig for fossils.
› Sundays, Sept. 1 and 8: Buddy the T-Rex will make photo-op appearances at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Parents must register for a time by calling the museum.
› Saturday, Sept. 7: Preschool Adventure Day Safari, 10 a.m.-noon. Guests will explore safari animals through pretend play, art and sensory activities. Event is included in the museum’s admission.
› Sunday, Sept. 8: Grandparents Event, 5-7 p.m. This first grandparents-grandchild event includes time in the museum without the crowds, dinner on the rooftop and special activities to celebrate Grandparents Day. Buddy the T-Rex will be making appearances.
Tickets are $10 per person for members, $15 per