Montreal (in Quebec canada) is a very tourist friendly city. Great food, attractions, cheap hotels, luxury hotels, etc. make it a popular place to visit.

The most popular attraction in Montreal is the Montreal Biodome. The word biodome's origin is two Greek words: bios, which means life, and domos, which means house. It was built in 1992 during a construction boom which was sparked by Montreal's 350th anniversary and this unique facility houses four different ecosystems all beneath a single roof. Its goal was to increase the public's awareness about environmental sciences and why we need to protect our natural heritage and to offer top-notch facilities for world renowned scientists to conduct their environmental research. Tours of the facility are self-guided but there are many informational signs and nature interpreters that are throughout the biodome to help any guests/visitors.

While all the animals and plants are very alive, the 6 gigantic trees which reach the top of the biodome are not actually real. They are constructed with concrete. They help support the roof of the biodome and intelligently hide the technical infrastructure which is needed to maintain this large exhibit. The rocks all throughout the exhibits are also hollow. The biodome wouldn't be able to support the weight of hundreds of large rocks in the structure. Necessary water and heating systems are hidden within the artificial rocks so they do not distract visitors from the natural surroundings.

The biggest area is the lush, humid tropical forest ecosystem that measures 27,976 square feet. Its temperature and humidity closely resembles what would be experienced in Costa Rica, the most densely populated ecosystem. Hundreds of different types of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and fish which live in and around South American rivers are in this exhibit.

The exhibit's Laurentian forest has maple, birch, pine, and spruce trees and shows changes which occur with each of the four seasons. And it also shows the various growth stages of a natural forest. In the young forest visitors will see light on the ground while in the mature forest the sunlight is blocked by heavy leaves. This large area, which measures 16,334 square feet, also is the home of hundreds of fish, birds, amphibians and mammals which you an see.

The polar worlds of the Arctic and Antarctic which measure 6,639 square feet is a spectaculer place to see. Here the birds from the most northernmost and southernmost parts of the earth are living side by side. The visitors can learn the similarities and differences between the two coldest places on the planet as they watch them both side by side each other.

In the St. Lawrence marine ecosystem you wil see a duplicate of the Estuary and the Gulf. This part measures 17,431 square feet and its cold waters are the home tof hundreds of fish and other marine species.

Some nearby attractions include the Montreal Botanical Gardens as well as the Montreal Planetarium. At the bidome, there are quite a few restaurants and boutiques.

Posted by Daniel Christian of Montreal Cheap Hotels