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Moody Gardens
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Moody Gardens | |
 The Rainforest Pyramid
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| Location | Galveston, Texas, USA |
| Accreditations/ Memberships |
Association of Zoos and Aquariums |
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Moody Gardens is a tourist complex in Galveston, Texas. It is owned, through a complex agreement, by the City of Galveston but funded, operated, and supported by the billion dollar Moody Foundation.
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Moody Gardens features three main pyramid attractions: the Aquarium, which is one of the largest in the world and holds many species of fish and other sealife; the Rainforest Pyramid, which contains tropical fauna and flora; and the Discovery Pyramid, which focuses on science-oriented exhibits and activities. Another major attraction is Palm Beach, a landscaped sandy area with freshwater lagoons and offering children's activities. Moody Gardens also has a RideFilm Theater with motion-based pod seating, a 3-D IMAX theater, a paddlewheel cruise boat, a hotel and a convention center.
The complex attracts many local tourists from the city of Houston and its outlying suburbs. The owners of Moody Gardens commissioned a famous landscape design from Geoffrey Jellicoe. It is described in Gardens of the mind : the genius of Geoffrey Jellicoe by Michael Spens (Antique Collectors Club, 1992) which has not been implemented, yet.
This pyramid is colored blue, and approximates 12 stories high. The massive pools that are contained in this pyramid contain approximately 8,000 species, from fish, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, and plants. The species represent N. Pacific, S. Pacific, and the edge of the Antarctic and Caribbean regions.
This pyramid reaches the height of 10 stories, and is colored white with clear glass. It contains the ever so popular bat caves, and Rainforest Rediscovered Exhibit, featuring an ocelot, coatimundis, chevrotains, and other rainforest animals on exhibit, as well as two-toed sloths and cotton top tamarins roaming free-range through the trees. To spice up the adventure, the environment of the pyramid has crashing waterfalls, massive trees, and wild animals including free-roaming butterflies.
The discovery pyramid is a home hub for all science and space. The huge deep magenta colored pyramid contains exhibits from around the world, along with stations and computers for kids in the mood for fun and education.
Each year Moody Gardens holds an event of massive proportions. The Festival of Lights is based around the idea of Christmas, fun, and partying. Moody sets up millions of lights for the occasion, and freezes massive ice rinks, along with snow pits (large gated in areas covered with fake snow,for fun and enjoyment).
Zoo • Public aquarium • Aviary • Menagerie • Tourist attraction
List of zoos • List of aquaria • List of zoo associations
Animals in captivity • Environmental enrichment • Endangered species • Conservation biology • Biodiversity • Endangered species • Extinction • Ex-situ conservation • In-situ conservation • Wildlife conservation • Zoology