Dynamic Earth Links Dynamic Earth

Dynamic Earth is a museum in Edinburgh, Scotland which examines the origins of our planet: the way it was created and shaped over time, and the resulting environments, as well as a touch of local Earth history.  John Hannah did the voice-over narration which explains each section as you walk through the museum.  There are 11 parts to Dynamic Earth: STATE OF THE EARTH This section examines the current state of the Earth and the latest environmental information.  It serves as a waiting room for the interactive tour that follows... THE TIME MACHINE The journey begins here.  You enter the time machine and watch images the events of history pass before your eyes, beginning at the present and working back, until you arrive at the origin of our universe, the Big Bang... HOW IT ALL STARTED This section deals with what happened during the Big Bang and shows the various galaxies of our universe being pulled together.  Finally, the voyage through the universe ends at a small blue planet that is almost recognizable, except that the land masses are not arranged as we know them today... THE RESTLESS EARTH Volcanoes and the ongoing processes of continental movement shaped the Earth as we know it today.  Ride an ocean plate, witness lava flowing under your feet, and experience an earthquake as you learn about how the continents were formed... SHAPING THE SURFACE After the volcanic landscape, you explore the glaciers that later covered the Earth, and specifically how these glaciers shaped the geography of Scotland.  You are then invited to explore the Earth at your own leisure... CASUALTIES AND SURVIVORS Follow the timeline through the evolution of life on Earth, beginning with our most primitive single-celled ancestors in their slimy habitat and including sabre-tooth tigers and dinosaurs and our early hominid ancestors... OCEANS Now we explore the various habitats in which life is found on Earth.  Find out the importance of the oceans for Man and discover different kinds of aquatic life... POLAR REGIONS The next habitat is the frozen world of the poles.  Discover the life of the polar regions and get a hands-on experience with an iceberg.  Learn the effects of global warming on the region with interactive models... JOURNEY OF CONTRASTS This section takes you from the poles to the Equator, exploring the different kinds of climates in the world and how the elements are balanced to sustain life in each one... TROPICAL RAINFOREST At the Equator, we come upon this threatened region.  Learn what a rain shower in the rainforest is like or look down on the forest canopy... THE SHOWDOME In this, the last section of the museum, you are surrounded by light and images which impress on you the power of Nature and the delicate balance that is necessary to sustain life.  It encourages a responsible interaction with Nature. My thoughts: John Hannah narrates in nearly all of the sections of the museum, but even without his voiceovers, it would have been a fun experience.  It had a great environmental message (which made me think of PANDAEMONIUM, but that's beside the point) and John did a fantastic job with the narration, informing and making it sound interesting.  I learned, I had fun, and I recommend the museum to anyone who goes to Edinburgh.

Dynamic Earth Info LOCATION Edinburgh, Scotland (at the foot of the extinct volcano, Arthur's Seat) HOURS April to October  10am - 6pm daily  November to March  10am - 5pm  Wednesday to Sunday closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day ADMISSION Adults £7.95  Child/OAP £4.50  Disabled child £3.45 Student/Disabled/UB40 £5.50  Family and season tickets also available TIME Dynamic Earth recommends at least 90 minutes to enjoy the entire museum.