Newport

We returned to the beautiful Oregon Coast.  Newport has two outstanding marine facilities.  The Oregon Coast Aquarium is well presented but commercial.  Divided into different areas they tell the historical and biological story of being a Pacific Ocean seaport.

We walked under massive tanks with sea life swimming around and above us. 

In the Orford Reef Northern sharks, manta rays swim through schools of  anchovy

and sardines.

In a separate tank is this sea pen, actually a colony of tiny polyps each with its own function.

Along the Rocky Shores star fish clump together.

while anenomes like this Giant Green one stand alone.

We enjoyed touching the rough texture of the star fish, sticky tentacles of the anenomes and the grasping of the sea urchins.

This lovely jellyfish swims in the Coastal Waters.

This tiny comb jelly floats like a tiny bubble through the water.

We watched the training session with Jojo, a brown pelican.  His eyes change from blue to brown during the mating season.  He weights about seven pounds.  In the wild, pelicans migrate 4000 miles along the Pacific coast.  They can plunge 65 feet for food.  Jojo is in captivity because of an injured wing.  They train him for management for such times as when a veterinarian needs to examine him.

It was late breeding season in the Seabird Aviary so some of the birds like this tufted puffin

still had their colorful plumage while the feathers of others were more black, white and grey

Seals and sea lions swim in tanks surrounded by these rocky coves.

The Hatfield Marine Science Center is part of Oregon State University and its emphasis is to educate visitors on the environment, sustainable fishing and the study of the oceans.  Like the aquarium, the Center uses appealing displays to educate visitors.   Much of the center is dedicated to hands-on activities to teach children and adults about the waterways and ways of water.
This doesn’t mean that beauty takes a back seat, instead the exhibits are beautiful and as well as informative.

As to beauty, we share this starfish.

 This sandbox with layers of color reflecting down on it, is an example of creative topography.  It is used to see the effects of erosion on the ocean floor. 

 This coral (looks like a crochet cap) is from a display on restoring reefs by coral farming or fragging.

There were actual skulls that we could get close to, wouldn’t want to get close to the creatures.
This is a killer whale jaw

a grey whale

and a walrus.

This sea cucumber is surrounded by green anenomes.  The colors look artificial. 

The Rumbleometer measures the differences in water pressure due to volcanic activity.  Yes, those are hardhats modified to travel the deep ocean.

Ardis DeFreece is an artist in residence.  Her “Cabinet of Curiosities” is a combination of trompe l’oeil, photographs, painting, collage, etc.  It is made from collected items from the seas or representations of them.

All along the coast we see signs telling where to go in event of a tsunami.  This concern was brought home to the Oregon coast in 2011 when a dock that was torn loose in Japan landed on these shores.  The dock was quickly covered and its surface examined and cleaned for fear of invasive creatures coming ashore.  It is now a memorial to those who died in the tsunami in Japan.

Both of these ocean centers are excellent and we look forward to return visits.