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The Biosphere Potsdam
03.02.2010
A world of tropical natural wonders amidst the cultural landscape of Potsdam
In the middle of the capital city of Brandenburg, there is a place where summer never ends – 365 days a year: the Biosphere Potsdam. It is located in a beautiful park on the grounds of the German National Garden Show 2001 between Sanssouci Park and the Neuer Garten. The glass hall of the world of tropical natural wonders accommodates more than 20,000 magnificent tropical plants overhung with the thick green tops of palm trees, a waterfall, two lakes and over 150 trees. In addition to gorgeous orchids, mangroves, palm trees, creepers and climbing plants, cacao and coffee plants can also be found. Birds which fly around freely and vigorous gerbils, terrariums with insects and reptiles, bird aviaries and an underwater world in the style of a historical submarine with colourful, tropical fish represent the animal kingdom of the tropics. The pride and joy of the Biosphere is the large Butterfly House, which was opened in May of 2009, in which the visitors can marvel at the many splendid, exotic specimens with their dazzling colours as well as observe the life cycle of a butterfly first-hand from the egg to the larva and cocoon to the complete evolvement.
An elaborately staged jungle atmosphere with intense and mysterious sounds of the rainforest, tropical rain and wafts of mist as well as the fragrances of exotic plants and an hourly storm with thunder and lightning transport the visitors to an entirely different, far-away world. The goal is to offer the guests exciting and entertaining insight into the colourful diversity of the rainforest.
Guests should plan about 2 hours for a visit to the Biosphere, where the temperatures are a pleasant 23 to 28 °C and the humidity is approximately 80%. The Biosphere is completely handicapped accessible. The round tour takes you along entwined paths through the jungle, passed the mangrove swamp, through a grove of palm trees, passed the shaman hut, the bat cave, always accompanied by a stream, until the swing bridge is passed to reach the 12 metre high catwalk of the “Höhenweg”, which is located over the tops of the palm trees. Up here, there is a truly diversified abundance of plants – bromeliads, orchids, Spanish moss and ferns whose colours and shapes are just fascinating. A „simulated flight“ through the rainforest forms the end of the round tour, which offers new, fascinating insight into the world of the tropics.
During their visit, guests can be accompanied by an audio guide, which provides them with interesting facts about plants and animals of the jungle at more than 40 stations via headphones. At other interactive research stations the visitors can find out for instance where mangroves get their water, why roots seem to float in the air and why mudskippers feel so at home here. Answers to questions such as how animals see colours, what kind of energy a tree requires in order to pump water from the roots to the crown or how a geyser works are also given. The fountain of the geyser shoots up almost six metres in the middle of the tropical world. Therefore, in addition to the many informative elements, the experience factor also plays a significant role. With the help of crank videos, rotatable knowledge boxes and similarly entertaining stations, which are also interesting for adults, the guest are informed about many worthwhile details. Scientific phenomena are intended to be understood in a playful manner. The philosophy of the Biosphere is to understand things and to try them out on your own.
So that a visit to the Biosphere is worth its while over and over again, exciting special exhibitions also take place in the tropical hall or in the foyer of the Biosphere, in which you are taken away to the world of the dinosaurs for example or can discover the blaze of colours of the orchids or in which you can follow the traces of unknown phenomena of native nature. You can get information about the current special exhibitions on the Internet.
With a reservation, various themed guided tours through the flora and fauna of the tropics can be arranged, which are useful individually or in a combination, e.g. jungle adventure, treasure hunt, guided tour through fauna and flora. The world of tropical natural wonders provides thematic profiles and educational materials with additional information for the preparation and postprocessing of visits with school classes. The latter can be viewed and ordered on the website of the world of tropical natural wonders.
With its exotic atmosphere, the Biosphere Potsdam is an ideal location for evening events. Once a month during the Romantic Night, the world of tropics is a meeting place for people who want to experience the unique flair of the Biosphere with candlelight and captivating music together. Once a month, except in the summer, there is an eventful night hike for children and parents with a detective game. The exact dates can be found on the Internet.
Every Monday is Senior Citizen Day at the Biosphere: Every visitor 60 years and older gets a cup of coffee and a piece of cake for free in addition to the regular admission fee..
With 7,000 square metres, the Biosphere Potsdam is the largest tropical greenhouse in Germany. The 200 metre long, 72 metre wide and 18 metre high hall is practically a glass roof, which was built on especially filled up soil embankments. The Biosphere Hall was opened in September 2002, which was arranged with cost expenditures amounting to five million Euros for the needs of the world of the tropical natural wonders. Approx. 300,000 visitors were counted in the first year. The Biosphere differs from conventional botanical gardens because of its concept as a world of tropical natural wonders or rather as a venue. In addition to the permanent attraction of an authentic tropical experience, routine alternating guided tours and special exhibitions are included as special attractions with which the expectations of various target groups are intended to be met. All themes are related to nature and are conveyed in a playful and entertaining manner.
Opening hours: Mon.-Fri.: 9:00am - 6:00pm (latest admission: 4:30pm), Sat., Sun. and holidays: 10:00am - 7:00pm (latest admission: 5:30pm).
Admission fees: (if not otherwise indicated): Adults: 9.50 Euros; children 5-13 years of age: 6.50 Euros; reduced: 8.00 Euros, families (two adults with up to three children): 28.00 Euros
Biosphäre Potsdam GmbH
Georg-Hermann-Allee 99
14469 Potsdam
Tel.: 0331/550 74-0
Fax: 0331/550 74-20
Email: info@biosphaere-potsdam.de
Internet: www.biosphaere-potsdam.de
Contact for press enquiries:
Projektkommunikation Hagenau GmbH
Breite Str. 22
14469 Potsdam
Tel.: 0331/201 96-0
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