NEWPORT, Ore. -- The Oregon Coast Aquarium here will open its $6.9
million "Passages of the Deep" exhibit this Memorial Day weekend.
The 1.32 million-gallon exhibit will feature three ocean
habitats connected by a 200-foot underwater tunnel. Suspended eight
feet below the water's surface, the clear tunnel will give visitors
a 360-degree view of the diverse marine life found off Oregon's
coast.
The Orford Reef section of the exhibit simulates a rocky
southern Oregon reef, featuring wolf eels and striped bass.
The Halibut Flats section features a sunken ship as the
background for showcasing California bat rays, Pacific halibut,
Pacific cod and rockfish.
The finale of "Passages of the Deep" is the 850,000-gallon Open
Sea section. This portion of the tunnel features mackerel,
coatstriped bass, salmon and various shark species.
The 39-acre Oregon Coast Aquarium is rated one of the top 10
aquariums in the U.S. by Parade magazine.
From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, the
aquarium's hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Winter hours are 10 a.m. to 5
p.m.
The aquarium is open every day except Dec. 25. General admission
is $8.75; adults ages 65 and older pay $7.75; children ages 4 to 13
pay $4.50, and children under 4 are admitted free.
Oregon Coast Aquarium
Phone: (541) 867-3474
Web: www.aquarium.org