In 1991 eight scientists were locked into Biosphere 2 for two years. As a self-contained living experiment, it wasn't 100% successful. However, as a way to learn about our planet (Biosphere 1), it was (and is) a huge success. Biosphere 2 is south of Phoenix. It was really, really cool to visit. The guided tour takes you through the whole facility and at the end you can visit the original living quarters. We learned that the average scientist lost 20% of their body fat suring their two year stay. They were working almost all the time on growing food and didn't have much of a chance to work on their own experiments. Today, the facility is open for tours and is used extensively for research. I would have loved to try living in there...what a cool experience!
The water in the picture below is a salt-water 'sea'.
I thought the coolest part of the tour (and Biosphere design) was the 'underbelly' - where the electrical, water, and ventilation systems are housed. There was a huge lung - a 16 ton aluminum disc and a 4 ton rubber membrane that moves up and down throughout the day as the air inside the Biosphere expands and contracts with the daily temperature changes. The amount of planning that went into the whole building amazes me.
After visiting Biosphere 2 we headed further south to the Saguaro National Park. I couldn't believe the number of different cactus species you can see here. It's a dangerous place to walk - so many things to trip on, bite you (snakes, spiders, scorpions), or poke you. It was mostly cloudy Saturday and Sunday, which was actually pretty nice since I forgot my sunglasses and it wasn't too warm. While I prefer cold and rainy, there is something...magical...about the desert. It smells nice - earthy and warm. There's a stillness about it, especially in the hour before sunrise. I woke up early Sunday morning and slipped out of the camper to watch the sun rise over the mountains. It wasn't a particularly pretty sunrise, and you could hear the community to the south start to wake up, but still, it was so peaceful.
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