History
Located within the storied city of Montreal, the Montréal Biodôme is one of Quebec’s premier attractions and tourist hotspots. Originally erected as a velodrome for the 1976 Olympic Stadium, the Montreal Biodôme began construction in 1989 and eventually opened publicly in 1992. This Biodôme, or closed ecological system was built with the intention of creating a sustainable manipulated environment for the preservation of a diverse variance of animal species and habitats. The Biodôme is only one part of the Montreal Nature Museum which has also merged a botanical garden and planetarium to further the experience of its guests.
Extras/Amenities
Before you begin, there are definitely some options that you might want to consider. While the tour is self-guided, you want to pick up an Audioguide to enhance your Biodôme experience. By doing this you’ll assuredly get a more in-depth understanding of the diverse ecosystems and wildlife you will be walking through.
The Café Vienne Cafeteria has a stocked menu for all who wish to eat within the confines of the Biodôme and the bistro has plenty to offer for those who want a quick snack.
For all of those who are coming in from out of town, please be sure to find a hotel within the vicinity of the Montreal Biodôme.
Ecosystems
There are over 293 recorded animal species and 288 plant species within the Biodôme. The Museum’s animals are very diverse and ranges from the Red Piranha to the White-throated Sparrow. The Biodôme itself has been meticulously crafted to make sure that all environmental variables are accounted for in order to emulate the original habitats of all of these creatures.
The Tropical Rainforest will be your first stop within the Biodôme and it is the grounds largest ecosystem. Filled with forests, waterfalls, caves and rivers this bionetwork has been designed to appear like the Amazon in South America. The museum uses artificial lighting to imitate the amount of daylight that the animals would receive in the rainforest and the humidity is set to an average of 70%. Sloths, anacondas and poisonous frogs may be found wandering the forest floor or within the large trees and vegetation that comprise the area.
Moving forward you will find yourself at the Laurentian Maple Forest. Here you will find an assortment of woodland areas with different densities of forestation. Some areas are heavily forested and condensed and others like the transitional forest lack concentration. Cliffs have been implemented for all rock dwelling animals and vegetation. The Lake in the center of the display is filled with an array of different fish and wildlife. The Laurentian Maple Forest is has been synergized with the seasons and depending on your visit during the year, you will see different animals out at different times and its intriguing to be mindful of their seasonal behavior.
Complete with an underwater viewing area, the Gulf of St. Laurence is a symmetrical habitat for cliff dwellers, marshland critters and rocky coast animals.
The Sub-Antarctic Islands exhibit is beautifully constituted by it’s basalt rock formations, it’s frigid climate and the multitude of penguin that you will be able to observe. There are four different species of the penguin family that may be found here. The King, Rockhopper, Macaroni, and Gentoo penguins may all be found waddling around in this sub polar habitat. Watching the penguins feed is very interesting if you get the chance to do so.
Hotels near the Montreal Biodôme
The Montreal Biodome is an amazing experience for all who have had the opportunity to enjoy it. As a final analysis and recommendation, if you’re traveling to Montreal, rest your head at the Park Inn Montreal Airport which is a convenient jumping point for this attraction.
