Seward's Sea Life Center

Howard and I took the hotel shuttle into the town of Seward  to the Sea Life Center.  The shuttle on the way stopped at Safeway (we should have gotten more supplies for our stay in Denali) then at a touristy part of town and off to the center of Seward, which is less touristy. 

The center's website can be found at:  http://www.alaskasealife.org.  It is Alaska's only public aquarium and sea life rescue center and is built on property devastated by the March 27, 1964 earthquake which measured 9.2 on the Richter scale. It had been an industrial and railroad site.  The picture below is of the RR center devastated after the earthquake.  It has been replaced by the Sea Life Center.

 Now the area has the Sea Life Center as well as campgrounds and a park.  It is located right next to the shoreline, so it is a nicer use of the area.   Here is the view from the back balcony of the center.

The story of the center and the exhibits were fascinating.  Money to help build the center came from the Exxon Valdez settlement.  Education and rehabilitation are important parts of the center.  To see the current patients in rehab, click here:  http://www.alaskasealife.org/New/rehabilitation/index.php?page=firstpage.php

First, near the beginning there are explanations of the richness of the sea life on the Alaskan shores. From the map below, you can see how big the coastal line is and all the inlets there are.

 The coastline of Alaska is huge,  stretching about 45,000 miles. These shorelines support thriving and unique fish, marine mammals, and huge bird populations.They include 474 species of fish, 29 species of mammals, thousands of invertebrates, millions of shore and sea birds.

The Bering Sea has an unusually broad and shallow continental shelf next to a deep basin. The basin is filled with nutrient-rich  water that moves around the Sea with the currents. This water is forced up onto the shallow continental shelf, where it combines with sunlight to nourish the growth of Algae.  The animals that eat this algae become food for larger animals that feed near the surface.  These conditions make the Bering Sea one of the most productive and diverse ecosystems in the world.

The northernmost part of the Bering Sea is the Bering Strait, where Alaska and Russia almost touch.  They are only 53 miles (85 km) apart!

A lot of these animals are on display at the center.

Shrimp attacking a sea star

Good Camouflage

A lot of the pictures I took didn't turn out well because they were taken through water and/or in dark light for the sake of the animals.  But I do have a few more to show you.

In addition to the explanations about the sea, there are explanations about the different kinds of salmon and their life cycle, endangered species, research to help keep the animals alive, information on alcids (diving sea birds), etc.  There is a spectacular viewing area for birds including two kinds of puffins,  and others for seals, otters, etc.    It is also a rehabilitation center.   This same day, Marty and Marsha went on a tour of the Kenai Peninsula and saw sea lions, etc. from the center in a shelter but natural habitat.

Steller Sea Lion

Grace Maybe

  The most exciting thing for me to see was the puffin, both the tufted and the horned. They are smaller than I had thought, about the size of a small duck.

Horned Puffin

Tufted Puffin

and I was also fascinated by the Harlequin duck.  This is not the best photo. They truly are beautiful.

In fact, they asked people to help support animals that are in rehab, and I donated the $50 (with my last check) to support a harlequin duck.

Eider Duck

Kittiwake Gull

Pigeon Guillimot , a type of sea bird about the size of a pigeon but not one

Rhinoceros Auklet

There is a special area when kids of all ages can touch different sea life, as you can see that I did.

Crab in shell?

Snail Eggs?

Anenome & Sea Urchin

There was a huge section on the different kinds of salmon and the life of the salmon.  There were also pictures from the past related to salmon.

Fertile Salmon Eggs

Very Young Salmon

The Chinook or King Salmon now average 10 to 25 lbs, but as you can see from the catch below, they used to be much bigger.  The one below, caught over 80 years ago weighed 62.5 pounds.

bbAnd to end with a few more photos of puffins!

Resting

High Up