Journey into the
depths of the pacific with the Largest Animal on Earth at the Aquarium
of the Pacific
Starting May 27, the Aquarium Debuts Whales: A Journey with Giants, a
Multi-sensory Experience of Light, Sound, and Imagery
A scuba diver gives perspective to the magnificent size of a blue whale. Photo Copyright: Mike Johnson earthwindow.com
A blue whale and her calf gracefully glide through the ocean waters. Photo Copyright: Mike Johnson earthwindow.com
It is the largest animal to ever have inhabited our planet: an up to
400,000 pound mammal with a body as long as three school buses, a heart
as big as a small car, and a tongue the size of an African elephant.
Starting Friday, May 27, 2005, the Aquarium of the Pacific will debut
Whales: A Journey with Giants, a multimedia experience which will take
guests on an adventure with blue whales through their watery realm.
As guests enter the Aquarium's Great Hall, an 88-foot model of a blue
whale and her calf hangs overhead. This is one of the few accurately
depicted blue whale models in the world. Through a compelling
multi-sensory experience of light, sound, and imagery, the Great Hall
will transform into the underwater world of these majestic whales.
Guests will follow the graceful giants as they travel and feed in the
waters off California's coast and to the dark depths of the ocean.
Throughout this journey, visitors will discover the remarkable animals
that blue whales encounter along their travels and will experience
their beauty and majesty. After experiencing Whales: A Journey with
Giants, families can embark on their own journey of discovery through
the Aquarium of the Pacific's galleries to learn more about these
gentle giants. As guests continue their journey, they will learn more
about the lives of these fascinating creatures and about their
conservation. More than 300,000 blue whales were killed mainly in the
20th century, and blue whales continued to be hunted off of California
until the early 1960's. Scientists are now seeing a recovery of blue
whales off the California coast. In fact, the highest concentration of
these animals anywhere in the world can be found in the waters off of
Southern California. Nonetheless, blue whales are still endangered and
only about 2,000 blue whales use these waters today. Through a Passport
Book guide and presentations, guests will hear more stories and learn
more facts about these whales. Not only are blue whales the largest
animals, but also the loudest creatures on our planet and one of the
fastest sea animals. They have the lowest pitched and most powerful
voices in the sea, which can be as loud as a jet plane. These whales
are spaced across vast stretches of the ocean and need to communicate
over long distances. Male blue whales sing loud and low-pitched songs
that are believed to be used for mating. The songs are so powerful that
under the right circumstances, a whale in Hawaii could hear a whale
calling off the coast of California. These songs also reveal the size
of the singer, as only the largest males can make extremely loud and
low-pitched songs, and female blue whales
may use these songs to select their mates.
Their sound is not the only thing traveling far distances. Despite
their graceful movements, blue whales are among the fastest whales in
the sea. Normally swimming at 10 miles per hour, they can swim at
speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. This mammal can easily travel from
California's Channel Islands to Monterey in 24 hours. Blue whales swim
to upwelling centers that are abundant with their major food source. As
adults, these giants feed on some of the world's smallest animals,
shrimp-like plankton called krill. Blue whales can consume up to four
tons or more of krill per day, taking in 17,000 gallons of water in
each mouthful, which they push out with their enormous tongue and
strain with their baleen. When a blue whale calf is born, it can be up
to 26 feet long and consume up to 100 gallons of milk a day. A calf can
weigh about three to four tons. Nursing calves can gain up to 200
pounds per day. A Journey with Giants is a permanent exhibit. The
Aquarium of the Pacific, a nonprofit institution, celebrates our
planet's largest and most diverse body of water: the Pacific Ocean.
Home to more than 12,500 animals, the Aquarium explores the waters of
Southern California and Baja and the Northern and Tropical Pacific. The
Aquarium features hands-on discovery labs staffed by knowledgeable
volunteers; the Lorikeet Forest aviary; its interactive Shark Lagoon;
and the kiosk exhibit Whales: Voices in the Sea. A world of discovery
awaits people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests. The Aquarium is
open daily from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and is located at 100 Aquarium Way in
Long Beach. General admission is $18.95 for adults (12+), $16.95 for
seniors (60+), $10.95 for children (3-11), and free for children under
3 and Aquarium members. For advance tickets and information, visit
www.aquariumofpacific.org or call 562.590.3100.
As guests enter the Aquarium's Great Hall, an 88-foot model of a blue
whale and her calf hangs overhead. This is one of the few accurately
depicted blue whale models in the world. Through a compelling
multi-sensory experience of light, sound, and imagery, the Great Hall
will transform into the underwater world of these majestic whales.
Guests will follow the graceful giants as they travel and feed in the
waters off California's coast and to the dark depths of the ocean.
Throughout this journey, visitors will discover the remarkable animals
that blue whales encounter along their travels and will experience
their beauty and majesty. After experiencing Whales: A Journey with
Giants, families can embark on their own journey of discovery through
the Aquarium of the Pacific's galleries to learn more about these
gentle giants. As guests continue their journey, they will learn more
about the lives of these fascinating creatures and about their
conservation. More than 300,000 blue whales were killed mainly in the
20th century, and blue whales continued to be hunted off of California
until the early 1960's. Scientists are now seeing a recovery of blue
whales off the California coast. In fact, the highest concentration of
these animals anywhere in the world can be found in the waters off of
Southern California. Nonetheless, blue whales are still endangered and
only about 2,000 blue whales use these waters today. Through a Passport
Book guide and presentations, guests will hear more stories and learn
more facts about these whales. Not only are blue whales the largest
animals, but also the loudest creatures on our planet and one of the
fastest sea animals. They have the lowest pitched and most powerful
voices in the sea, which can be as loud as a jet plane. These whales
are spaced across vast stretches of the ocean and need to communicate
over long distances. Male blue whales sing loud and low-pitched songs
that are believed to be used for mating. The songs are so powerful that
under the right circumstances, a whale in Hawaii could hear a whale
calling off the coast of California. These songs also reveal the size
of the singer, as only the largest males can make extremely loud and
low-pitched songs, and female blue whales 
may use these songs to select their mates.
