Saturday 27 January 2018

Natural History Museum

Have you ever seen the film "Night at the Museum"? The main character spends a night in the Museum of Natural History and it proves to be a life-changing experience. Will you dare to try yourself? Then let me invite you to the Natural History Museum in London. At night.


As we enter inside, we are welcomed by a large collection of fossils.


Next to them comes the plesiosaurus, a large marine reptile that lived (yes!) in Jurassic era.


This giant mammal was a huge ground sloth. It was by far larger than a horse.


As we enter the Hintze Hall, we immediately discover the king of the place - a twenty five metre long blue whale skeleton.


Luckily it is suspended in the air - I would not like to get anywhere close to his jaws. I know they are supposed to be eating only small sea food. Still, I would not take the risk.


The Hintze Hall looks like a giant cathedral. In the front, you will find the figure of god almighty. Or more precisely the one who has redefined the natural history - Charles Darwin.


In the side chapels you will find some of the finest specimen of the Museum. Like this two and a half billion years old metal rock.


Obviously, the Hall would not be complete without a proper dinosaur. The 125-million-year-old Mantellisaurus on display in Hintze Hall is one of the most complete dinosaur fossils ever found in the UK.


The next "chapel" houses a giant Turbinaria coral (three hundred kilograms of pure coral!). It looks like a huge lettuce to be honest.


By the way, did you know that corals are actually animals? Plants are also represented of course. The seaweeds are important not because we use them to make sushi. They are a vital part of the marine ecosystem.


The seaweeds were dried and pressed to be better preserved. On the opposite, sea animals are kept in a special liquid. This blue marlin only joined the collection a few years ago.


Last but not least, this is my favourite exhibit. If you want to discover the natural history inside out, you need to come to London!


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