Pacific Northwest



	Oceanarium - A Walk Along the Pacific Northwest Coast A visit to Shedd's Oceanarium takes you along a lush trail through the rainforest of the Pacific Northwest Coast. As you wind through spiky pine trees past rocky streams, you'll encounter some of the animals that make their homes in the Pacific waters, like playful Alaska sea otters, clinging sea stars, and harbor seals. At the edge of the recreated spruce forest, you'll find beluga whales and pacific white-sided dolphins swimming in nearly 3 million gallons of saltwater - the world's largest indoor marine mammal pavilion. The Pacific Northwest Coast stretches from Northern California to Prince William Sound in Alaska, and is one of the world's richest and most fragile habitats. Shedd Aquarium's faithful recreation will allow you to experience this delicate ecosystem first-hand. Several times a day, marine mammal trainers host presentations in which you'll see some of the amazing natural behaviors of dolphins and whales, such as diving, spy-hopping and tail-walking. You'll also learn much more about the incredible connections between animals, plants and people in the Pacific Northwest.
When you descend to the Underwater Viewing Gallery, you'll experience the Pacific Northwest Coast from a different perspective - underwater! You'll come eye-to-eye with the whales and dolphins in their underwater world.