Biosphere

   Remember when you first heard of the Biosphere?  It was this futuristic place out in the Arizona Desert where a number of scientists were sealed inside for a long period of time.  They were to be entirely self-sufficient cut off from the outside world, making their own environment, air, water, food, etc.  The name conjured up visions of a glass sphere, or at least a dome or maybe several domes connected by passage ways.  I have seen some sci-fi movies with that layout. 

    I was pretty excited to be driving the 70+ miles south of here to get to the location near the town of Oracle.  Because of the topography, the site cannot be seen from the highway .  It's probably a couple of miles of curves and hills to arrive.  

The site, as you can see, is just as magical as I had imagined.

The entrance area consists of a large group of contemporary buildings that house offices, gift shop, and a conference center.  

Registration and admission can be done online before arrival.  At check-in you are instructed to download the app that provides the Biosphere story as you move past numbered stops.  I would have preferred an actual tour guide so we could ask questions   I would Love to be a volunteer  guide there.   It would be so fun to learn more about the place and help the visitors imagine themselves living in such a exotic place.

This structure houses thecoastal desert and the tropical rain forest

98 species of plants grow in here.  Some are absolutely huge.  So big that someone climbs up on the framework trim them.  It was warm and humid inside, a sharp contrast to the chilly windy day outside.
 

There are blooms.  There are fruit.  There is even an ocean.  This is a definite must see.