Amazing Journeys

Alestle Staff report

Visitors to the St. Louis Science Center can experience nature's most incredible trips as "Amazing Journeys" takes them along the migrations of six different creatures.

The Omnimax film captures the splendor and mystery of migrations from the Arctic to Africa as it observes the trials of six extraordinary creatures: the monarch butterfly, migratory birds, gray whales, red crabs of the Christmas Islands, zebras and humans. The show runs through May 3.

The monarch butterfly takes the audience through a golden blizzard on one of the greatest insect migrations. These near-weightless creatures navigate a 2,500-mile journey to a secluded place in the forests of Michoacan, Mexico.

Audience members next investigate birds and use modern science to explore age-old secrets such as how these remarkable creatures fly through night, storms and over sea, all in a "V" formation.

From the cold Arctic waters to the warm Baja California lagoons, the longest migration on Earth is made by the gray whale. The creatures' journey spans more than 5,000 miles. Audience members are taken under the ocean's waves to view these underwater giants.

Each November on tiny Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, a migration takes place. Millions of red crabs make a dangerous journey from the forests to the shores to mate and spawn. Audience members join the creatures as they march to their destination.

Spectators are taken on a sort of safari for the next adventure. The zebras lead wildebeests, antelope and gazelles from the dry plains of East Africa to the tall grass and waters of the north. This trip of 500 miles takes viewers through crocodile-filled rivers and other obstacles that these magnificent animals must overcome.

Finally, humankind is featured on a journey. The Hadzabe tribe of East Africa still follows a hunting and gathering life using tools developed during the Stone Age. Viewers follow this tribe as they stay in the move in order to survive.

Omnimax technology is the world's largest high-fidelity motion picture system. The screen projects images 10 times that of the standard 35-mm frame. The dome or screen is four-stories high. Sound is distributed through a 15,000-watt system.

"Amazing Journeys" is presented daily every hour on the half hour. Tickets for adults are $7 and children and senior adults are $6. Science Center members pay $6 and $5 respectively. Groups of 10 or more receive a discount with advance reservations. Rush-hour tickets for the 4:30 p.m. performance Monday through Friday are $4 for the public and $3 for Science Center members.

For more information, call (314) 289-4444, toll-free (800) 456-SLSC or visit the Science Center's Web site at www.slsc.org.