http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/ The Sant Ocean Hall opens September 27, 2008, but you can have a sneak peek now! en Copyright 2008 Smithsonian Institution http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#kelp [Fun Facts] Some of the Earth's tallest forests are in the ocean, dominated by giant kelp. Kelp can reach 100 meters in height (328 feet). http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#kelp http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#sailfish [Fun Facts] Sailfish, considered the fastest ocean fish, can reach speeds of 109 kph (68 mph) when leaping from the water. http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#sailfish http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#oceanfamily [Fun Facts] Scientists try to make sense of the incredible diversity found in the ocean by organizing marine organisms by who they are related to, where they live, and how big (or small) they are. http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#oceanfamily http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#newyork [Fun Facts] About 370 million years ago, New York was covered by a seaway populated by marine organisms like a sponge (Hydnoceras tuberosum) whose skeleton was made of glass. http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#newyork http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/podcasts.html [Podcasts] Every exhibit needs a dedicated team of experts. The Sant Ocean Hall exhibit team has six and their expertise include marine biology, project management, exhibit development, paleobiology, zoology, and education. Get to know them here in their own words. http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/podcasts.html http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#restless [Fun Fact] Currents continually mix and churn ocean water. The sea never rests. Ocean currents carry water around the globe from top to bottom. http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#restless http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#extremes [Fun Fact] Want to visit Earth's deepest valley? Longest mountain range? Biggest volcano? Put on your bathing suit, because these are all found at the bottom of the ocean. http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#extremes http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean%5Fhall/restoration_slideshow.html [Slideshow] Before the installation of a single exhibit wall, the Ocean Hall underwent an extensive, multi-year restoration. See it here! http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/restoration_slideshow.html http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean%5Fhall/ocean_hall_press.html [Press Release] On June 26th, the Museum announced that the Ocean Hall received a $15 million endowment from Roger and Vicki Sant. The Hall is named the Sant Ocean Hall in honor of this generous gift. http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/ocean_hall_press.html http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#around [Fun Fact] You could sail around the Earth without ever bumping into land. The ocean is one big body of water. http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#around http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#dwellers [Fun Fact] Ocean dwellers use the entire depth of the ocean. They live in a three-dimensional world that's full of life from top to bottom. http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#dwellers http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#basins [Fun Fact] Earth's ocean spans several "basins" - Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Southern Ocean. People have named these basins differently, but they are all part of a single, complex body of water. http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#basins http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#valley [Fun Fact] The Pacific Ocean's Mariana Trench is 10,920 m (35,830 ft) deep at its deepest point - the deepest valley on Earth. http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#valley http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#morethanwater [Fun Fact] If you could drain away the ocean's water, you'd see a rugged terrain of towering cliffs, flat plains stretching out of sight, and vents spewing heat and chemicals from deep underground. http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#morethanwater http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/canoe_info.html [Event] Join us June 19th, from 2-4pm, in the Baird Auditorium at the National Museum of Natural History for the arrival of our Tlingit dug-out canoe, hand-crafted by master carver, Douglas Chilton, for display in our new Ocean Hall. http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/canoe_info.html http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#evolution [Fun Fact] While you're reading this, the process of evolution is still going on. Speciation (evolution of new species) in the ocean is continual, though gradual. http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#evolution http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/timelapse.html [Time Lapse] Don't have much time? Watch the Ocean Hall come to life in this two-minute time lapse and check back each month for updates: http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/timelapse.html http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/timelapse.html http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#fullhouse [Fun Fact] The ocean is home to almost every major form of life - from the tiny to the titanic, from the familiar to the undiscovered. http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#fullhouse http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#oceanplanet [Fun Fact] Almost all of Earth's livable space is in the ocean. This is an ocean planet. http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#oceanplanet http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#phoenix [Fun Fact] The North Atlantic Right Whale model hanging from the ceiling of the Ocean Hall is based on a real, living whale. Her name is Phoenix, and you can learn more about her story here: http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/whale_model.html. http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean_hall/funfacts.html#phoenix