Centralia is a borough and ghost town in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its population has dwindled from over 1,000 residents in 1981 to 12 in 2005 and 9 in 2007, as a result of a mine fire burning beneath the borough since 1962. Centralia is now the least-populous municipality in Pennsylvania, with four fewer residents than the borough of S.N.P.J.

Centralia is part of the Bloomsburg–Berwick Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Johnathan Faust opened Bull's Head Tavern in 1841 in what was then Roaring Creek Township. In 1854, Alexander W. Rea, a civil and mining engineer for the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company, moved to the site and laid out streets and lots for development. The town was known as Centreville until 1865. There was another Centreville in Schuylkill County, however, and the Post Office would not allow a second one, so Rea named his village Centralia.

Centralia was incorporated as a borough in 1866. The anthracite coal industry was the principal employer in the community. Coal mining continued in Centralia until the 1960s, when most of the companies went out of business. Bootleg mining continued until 1982. Strip and open-pit mining is still active in the area, and there is an underground mine employing about 40 employees three miles to the west.

The borough was also a hotbed of Molly Maguires activity during the 1860s and 1870s. The borough's founder, Alexander Rea, was one of the victims of the secret order when he was murdered just outside of the borough on October 17, 1868. Three individuals were convicted of the crime and hanged in the county seat of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania on March 25, 1878. Several other murders and arsons also occurred during this period.

The borough was served by two railroads, the Philadelphia and Reading and the Lehigh Valley, with the Lehigh Valley being the principal carrier. Rail service ended in 1966. The borough operated its own school district with elementary schools and a high school within its precincts. There were also two Catholic parochial schools in the borough. The borough once had seven churches, five hotels, twenty-seven saloons, two theatres, a bank, post office, and fourteen general and grocery stores. During most of the borough's history, when coal mining activity was being conducted, the town had a population in excess of 2,000 residents. Another 500 to 600 residents lived in unincorporated areas immediately adjacent to Centralia.

It is not known for certain how the fire that made Centralia essentially unlivable was ignited. One theory asserts that in May 1962, Centralia Borough Council hired five members of the volunteer fire company to clean up the town landfill, located in an abandoned strip mine pit next to the Odd Fellows Cemetery. This had been done prior to Memorial Day in previous years, when the landfill was in a different location. The firefighters, as they had in the past, set the dump on fire, and let it burn for a time. Unlike in previous years, however, the fire was not extinguished.

Other evidence supports this theory, as stated in Joan Quigley's 2007 missive, such as the fact that one of two trash haulers (Curly Stasulevich or Sam Devine) dumped hot ash and/or coal discard from coal burners into the open trash pit. The borough, by law, was responsible for installing a fire-resistant clay barrier between each layer but had fallen behind. This action allowed the hot coals to penetrate the vein of coal underneath the pit and subsequent subterranean fire. Quigley cites "interviews with volunteer firemen, the former fire chief, borough officials, and several eyewitnesses, as well as contemporaneous borough council minutes" as her sources for this explanation of the fire. Another theory of note is the Bast Theory. It states that the fire was burning long before the alleged trash dump fire. However, due to overwhelmingly contrary evidence, few hold this position and give it little credibility.

The fire remained burning underground and spread through a hole in the rock pit into the abandoned coal mines beneath Centralia. Attempts to extinguish the fire were unsuccessful and it continued to burn throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Adverse health effects were reported by several people due to the byproducts of the fire, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide and lack of healthy oxygen levels.

In 1979, locals became aware of the scale of the problem when a gas-station owner and then mayor, John Coddington, inserted a stick into one of his underground tanks to check the fuel level. When he withdrew it, it seemed hot, so he lowered a thermometer down on a string and was shocked to discover that the temperature of the gasoline in the tank was 172 °F (77.8 °C). Statewide attention to the fire began to increase, culminating in 1981 when 12-year-old resident Todd Domboski fell into a subsidence four feet wide by 150 feet (46 m) deep that suddenly opened beneath his feet in a backyard.

In 1984, Congress allocated more than $42 million for relocation efforts. Most of the residents accepted buyout offers and moved to the nearby communities of Mount Carmel and Ashland. A few families opted to stay despite warnings from state officials.

In 1992, Pennsylvania claimed eminent domain on all properties in the borough, condemning all the buildings within. A subsequent legal effort by residents to have the decision reversed failed. In 2002, the United States Postal Service revoked Centralia's ZIP Code, 17927.

Today

Very few homes remain standing in Centralia; most of the abandoned buildings have been demolished by humans or nature. At a casual glance the area now appears to be a field with many paved streets running through it. Some areas are being filled with new-growth forest. Most of Centralia's roads and sidewalks are overgrown with brush, although some areas appear to be mowed. The remaining church in the borough, St. Mary's, holds weekly services on Sunday and is unaffected by the fire. The town's four cemeteries are maintained in good condition and now have a far greater population than the town, including one on the hilltop that has smoke rising around and out of it.

The only indications of the fire, which underlies some 400 acres (1.6 km²), spreading along four fronts, are low round metal steam vents in the south of the borough, and several signs warning of underground fire, unstable ground, and carbon monoxide. Additional smoke and steam can be seen coming from an abandoned portion of Pennsylvania Route 61, the area just behind the hilltop cemetery, and other cracks in the ground scattered about the area. Route 61 was repaired several times until its final closing. The current route was a detour around the damaged portion during the repairs and became a permanent route in the mid-1990s; mounds of dirt were placed at both ends of the former route, effectively blocking the road. Pedestrian traffic is still possible due to a small opening about two feet wide at the north side of the road, but this is muddy and not accessible to the disabled. The underground fire is still burning and will continue to do so for a predicted 250 more years.

Prior to its demolition in September 2007, the last remaining house on Locust Avenue was notable for the five chimney-like support buttresses along each of two opposite sides of the house, where the house was previously supported by a row of adjacent buildings before it was demolished. Another house with similar buttresses is visible from the northern side of the cemetery, just north of the burning, partially subsumed hillside.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania did not renew the relocation contract at the end of 2005, and the fate of the remaining residents is uncertain.

It is expected that many former residents will return in 2016 to open a time capsule buried in 1966 next to the veterans' memorial.

credited to wikipedia

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Like your life and limbs intact? Then you'd better get skilled before visiting these trails.

Horseshoe Canyon, Utah

Horseshoe Canyon, formerly known as Barrier Canyon, is in a remote area west of the Green River and north of the Canyonlands National Park Maze District in Utah, USA. It is known for its collection of Barrier Canyon Style (BCS) rock art, including both pictographs and petroglyphs, which was first recognized as a unique style here. A portion of Horseshoe Canyon containing The Great Gallery is part of a detached unit of Canyonlands National Park. The Horseshoe Canyon Unit was added to the park in 1971 in an attempt to preserve and protect the rock art found along much of its length.

Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon, AZ

The trail originates on the south rim of Grand Canyon and descends 4380 feet in elevation to the Colorado River. It has an average grade of 10% along its entire length. At trail's end, the River Trail continues another 2 miles to the Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch. These two trails combined are the most common method used to access Phantom Ranch by hikers and mules.

There are two trails that cross or join this trail. The first being the Tonto Trail at Indian Gardens which leads towards the Monument Use Area to the west (the east leads to the South Kaibab Trail 4.7 miles (7.6 km) from the junction), and the River Trail which officially begins when the Bright Angel Trail reaches the Colorado River at the River Resthouse, although some consider that the Bright Angel Trail officially ends after crossing the Colorado River at the Silver Bridge.

Pikes Peak, Colorado

Pikes Peak is a mountain in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, 10 miles (16 km) west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, in El Paso County. It is named for Zebulon Pike, an explorer who led an expedition to the southern Colorado area in 1806. At 14,115 feet (4,302 m)[1], it is one of Colorado's 54 fourteeners. Drivers race up the mountain in a famous annual race called the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The peak is also the annual site of the Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent foot races on the Barr Trail. An upper portion of Pikes Peak is a federally designated National Historic Landmark.

Mount Washington, New Hampshire

Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at 6,288 ft (1,917 m). It is famous for its dangerously erratic weather, holding the record for the highest wind gust directly measured at the Earth's surface, at 231 mph (372 km/h) on the afternoon of April 12, 1934. It was known as Agiocochook, or "home of the Great Spirit", before European settlers arrived.

The mountain is located in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, in Coos County, New Hampshire. It is the third highest state high point in the eastern U.S. and the most prominent peak in the Eastern United States.

While nearly the whole mountain is in the White Mountain National Forest, an area of 59 acres (0.24 km2) surrounding and including the summit is occupied by Mount Washington State Park.

Mount Rainier, Washington

Mount Rainier is an active stratovolcano (also known as a composite volcano) in Pierce County, Washington, located 54 miles (87 km) southeast of Seattle. It towers over the Cascade Range as the most prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and Cascade Volcanic Arc at 14,411 feet (4,392 m).

The mountain and the surrounding area are protected within Mount Rainier National Park. With 26 major glaciers and 35 square miles (91 km2) of permanent snowfields and glaciers, Mount Rainier is the most heavily glaciated peak in the lower 48 states. The summit is topped by two volcanic craters, each over 1,000 feet (300 m) in diameter with the larger east crater overlapping the west crater. Geothermal heat from the volcano keeps areas of both crater rims free of snow and ice, and has formed the world's largest volcanic glacier cave network within the ice-filled craters. A small crater lake about 130 by 30 feet (40 m × 9.1 m) in size and 16 feet (5 m) deep, the highest in North America with a surface elevation of 14,203 feet (4,329 m), occupies the lowest portion of the west crater below more than 100 feet (30 m) of ice and is accessible only via the caves.

Mount Rainier has a topographic prominence of 13,211 feet (4,027 m), greater than that of K2 (13,189 feet (4,020 m)). On clear days it dominates the southeastern horizon in most of the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area to such an extent that residents sometimes refer to it simply as "the Mountain." On days of exceptional clarity, it can also be seen from as far away as Portland, Oregon, and Victoria, British Columbia.

Huckleberry Mountain, MT

The Hike In Glacier National Park, you could spit and hit a grizzly. Well, almost–the park features the highest bear density in the Lower 48. One recent study counted 563 individuals, and researchers suspect the actual population may be even higher. That's .35 bears per square mile–or one bear within a one-mile radius of every backcountry campsite. Come summer and fall, aptly named Huckleberry Mountain becomes a magnet for hungry grizzlies, which are commonly found foraging the plump, purple fruit that ripens along the Apgar/Huckleberry Lookout Trail. "Large numbers of bears congregate there when there's a bumper crop," says supervisory ranger Gary Moses. In high huckleberry season, rangers often close the trail to dayhiking–but backpackers may still complete overnight trips in the area.

Kalalau Trail, Hawaii

The Kalalau Trail is a trail along the Nā Pali Coast of the island of Kauai in the state of Hawaii. The trail is very strenuous and runs approximately 11 miles (18 km) along the island's north shore from Keʻe Beach to the Kalalau Valley. An experienced, very fit hiker can complete the trail in about a day, but most people require two days and will camp along the trail.

The trail is located in the Nā Pali Coast State Park and access is controlled in the cause of conservation. A limited number of permits are issued for camping in Kalalau Valley every year. In spite of the efforts of the state of Hawaiʻi, many people hike the trail without paying money to the State Park office.

The trail starts on the north shore of the island, where the main highway ends at Keʻe Beach. The first two miles (3 km) of the trail are moderately strenuous and open to the public. This portion of the trail leads to Hanakapiai stream and beach. The trail beyond Hanakapiʻai is open only to those with camping permits.

The trail continues for approximately four miles to Hanakoa Valley, which is a hanging valley with no beach access. After Hanakoa, the trail turns more toward the dry side of the island. About five miles (8 km) later is Kalalau Valley, a large, flat-bottomed valley almost a mile across.

Buckskin Gulch, Utah

The Buckskin Gulch in southern Utah is one of the main tributaries of the Paria River, which is itself a major tributary of the Colorado River. It is the longest and deepest slot canyon in the southwest United States and may very well be the longest in the world. As such it is one of the premier destinations for slot canyon hikers, and receives a high amount of foot traffic. At over 13 miles (21 km) in length it is often visited in conjunction with the longer Paria Canyon, although some prefer to make a long day trip out of the hike. With a distance of 20 miles (32 km), hiking this canyon in one day is do-able but not easy. Wire Pass, a short tributary to the Buckskin, is an ideal alternative for a short day hike that still takes hikers through the narrow, curving features that are the hallmark of slot canyons.

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee-North Carolina

The Great Smoky Mountains are a mountain range rising along the Tennessee-North Carolina border in the southeastern United States. They are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, and form part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. The range is sometimes called the Smoky Mountains or the Smokey Mountains, and the name is commonly shortened to the Smokies. The Great Smokies are best known as the home of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which protects most of the range. The park was established in 1934, and with over 9 million visits per year, it is the most-visited national park in the United States.

Half Dome, California

Half Dome is a granite dome in Yosemite National Park, located in northeastern Mariposa County, California, at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley — possibly Yosemite's most familiar sight. The granite crest rises more than 4,737 ft (1,444 m) above the valley floor.

credited to wikipedia, backpacker.com and flickr users: wildintel, duroc2006

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The late Charles Kuralt, travel correspondent for CBS News, referred to the Beartooth Highway (US 212) as “the most beautiful road in America.” Most travelers who have driven its 67 miles and admired the spectacular vistas of rugged mountains and sweeping alpine tundra would agree with his ranking.

Completed in 1936, the highway runs through Montana and Wyoming, and meanders through Custer, Shoshone, and Gallatin National Forests until it reaches the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Through a series of switchbacks the road quickly rises into a world of giants—twenty of the surrounding peaks exceed 12,000 feet. Glaciers decorate most of the higher mountains, and colorful wildflowers adorn the velvety green alpine meadows.

The road reaches its highest point at the top of Beartooth Pass (10,974 feet in elevation), where expansive views showcase miles of wilderness. Near the pass, West Summit Overlook reveals the western slope’s striking blue jewelry of lakes. While driving, travelers may spot one of the jagged rock formations resembling a bear’s tooth that give the highway its namesake. Or a real grizzly bear may wander into sight as it searches for forage.

The scenery viewed from a car is breathtaking--and also inviting. I parked along the Beartooth Plateau and took a short hike on the alpine tundra to a nearby ridge. I passed an array of wildflowers, including my favorite: the delicate sky pilot. While resting on a rock, I heard the unmistakable call of a pika and watched with delight as it scurried across the boulders.

Recreational opportunities abound in the Beartooth, with miles of hiking and horsebackriding trails, plentiful fishing streams, and numerous campgrounds. In the winter, heavy snowcover renders the road impassable, but the gateway communities of Red Lodge and Cooke City provide skiing and snowmobiling access.

On your next trip to Yellowstone, be sure to include time for an excursion on the Beartooth Highway—no visit to the first national park would be complete without driving on America’s most beautiful road.

Watch a video of the breathtaking views of the Beartooth Highway below:

credited to examiner.com and youtube

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Arches National Park is a U.S. national park in eastern Utah. It is known for preserving over 2000 natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch, in addition to a variety of unique geological resources and formations.

The park is located near Moab, Utah, and is 119 square miles (310 km2) in size. Its highest elevation is 5,653 feet (1,723 m) at Elephant Butte, and its lowest elevation is 4,085 feet (1,245 m) at the visitor center. Since 1970, forty-three arches have toppled because of erosion. The park receives 10 inches (250 mm) of rain a year on average.

The area, administered by the National Park Service, was originally designated as a national monument on April 12, 1929. It was redesignated a national park on November 12, 1971. More than 833,000 people visited in 2006.

Climbing of named arches within the park has long been banned by park regulations. However, following a successful free climb of Delicate Arch in May 2006, the wording of the regulations was deemed unenforceable by the park attorney. In response, the park revised its regulations as follows:

"All rock climbing or similar activities on any arch or natural bridge named on the United States Geological Survey 7.5 minute topographical maps covering Arches National Park are prohibited."

Climbing of other features in the park is allowed, but regulated. The revised regulations also prohibit slacklining parkwide. Approved recreational activities include auto touring, backpacking, biking, camping, and hiking, some of which require permits. There are also guided commercial tours and ranger programs.

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France may have its vineyards, and Rome its ancient ruins, but America is the undisputed wonderland of roads. Here in the Land of the Free, the open road has long been a symbol of independence, and all the more so on a motorcycle.

But where to begin?

In the continental United States alone there are hundreds of thousands of miles of blacktop and cement, an oblivion of open road panning to all compass points.

For this story, we polled nine biker fanatics, including editors and publishers from motorcycling magazines, as well as some longtime recreational riders, to create a top 10 list of must-ride roads.

Going-to-the-Sun Road, Montana

For "scenery that is unbelievable," Renate Nietzold, the publisher of Biker Ally Magazine, recommends this epic mountain route through Montana's Glacier National Park, which is an alpine engineering marvel that travels for 50 miles and up to 6,646 feet over breathtaking Logan Pass. Highlights include glacial lakes, waterfalls, wildlife, and perpetual, endless mountain scenery.

The Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, North Carolina

This whirling, twirling 11-mile route through the Smoky Mountains at the Tennessee/North Carolina state line is probably the most famous motorcycle road in the country, according to Bill Belei, editor of MotorcycleRoads.com. Indeed, "The Tail" includes an amazing 318 curves in its short length, many flanked with precipitous drop-offs, creating an exhilarating, unforgettable ride.

Glenn Highway, Alaska

Designated a National Scenic Byway by the United States Department of Transportation for its natural beauty and historical significance, the Glenn Highway extends north from Anchorage into the Neverland of the Alaskan wilderness. It traces the path of the receding glaciers that were responsible for shaping Alaska's interior.

Big Sur on Hwy. 1, Cambria to Carmel, California

"Motorcycle Heaven." That's how writer Clement Salvadori describes this stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway, which winds 100 miles through the Big Sur, a lush region of towering redwoods and mountains tumbling into the sea. It's best ridden in the early morning with the sun just coming up, Salvadori said.

The Cherohala Skyway, North Carolina/Tennessee

A nearby—and less crowded—alternative to The Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, the Cherohala Skyway south of Smoky Mountain National Park has sweeping corners, scenic views and climbs up to 5,390 feet. Brian Rathjen, publisher of Backroads Motorcycle Tour magazine, said the 15-mile Cherohala Skyway is among the best—and least known—motorcycling routes in the Southeast.

San Juan Mountain Skyway, Colorado

This 225-mile drive will take you through arguably the most beautiful sections of the Rocky Mountains, said Bill Belei of MotorcycleRoads.com. Starting in the town of Durango, the route heads on a giant clockwise course via state highways 160, 145, 62, and then 550 back south to Durango. Highlights include views of several 14,000-foot peaks, historic mining towns, national parks and roads that climb past 10,000 feet in elevation.

The Palomar Mountain Road, California

Often called the most technical road in southern California, Route 76 near Escondido—aka Palomar Mountain Road—is a 30-mile epic that swoops and climbs through the mountains of Cleveland National Forest. Highlights include back-to-back hairpin turns, multiple decreasing-radius turns and smooth pavement that lets you lay it down.

Yellowstone Highway (Jackson, Wyoming to Montana)

Heading north from Jackson, Wyo., on U.S. Highway 191, riders can tour two National Parks in one day, starting with a cruise underneath the towering peaks of Grand Teton National Park then motoring north to Yellowstone. Geysers, buffaloes, mountain goats and unending mountain scenery are among the sites you'll see on this trip.

High Plains Cruise (Route 350 from Trinidad, Colorado and into Kansas)

"The only thing bleaker than Trinidad, Colorado, is the land east of it," said Peter Jones, a writer and longtime rider from Laurel Park, N.C., who chose this route for its austere High Plains beauty. But the ride—which follows Route 350 northeast from Trinidad to La Junta before continuing east to Kansas on Route 50—also reveals feed lots, hardscrabble rangeland and agricultural towns on life support. "It's an America most travelers ignore and avoid, which is the attraction for me," Jones said.

Key West Highway, Florida

Florida's southernmost leg of U.S. Route 1 literally rides above the ocean waters, hopping through the archipelago of keys via dozens of bridges, some several miles in length. The trip starts in Miami, where riders motor south and then hold their breath before plunging into the oblivion of ocean blue beyond.

credited to forbestraveler.com

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Coming face-to-face with sharks, wandering through oceanic gardens teeming with coral and watching stingrays glide beneath your feet may lead you to believe you’re underwater.

Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, Calif.

Hammerhead sharks, jellyfish, sea turtles and bluefin tuna: the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium has it all. The million-gallon Outer Bay exhibit boasts the largest community of open-ocean animals in any aquarium. Monterey Bay's research program is geared toward protecting endangered animals such as sea otters and tracking the migration of sharks and whales.

John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, Ill.

Twenty different habitats and 500 species of animals are featured in the Wild Reef exhibit at Chicago's gargantuan John G. Shedd Aquarium. Green sea turtles, Atlantic tarpons and bonnethead sharks can be found swimming around the Caribbean Reef exhibit, while the Waters of the World exhibit features marine life native to their respective ocean, river, and lake waters. Shedd's Oceanarium exhibit is closed for renovation through June 2009.

National Aquarium, Baltimore, Md.

Want to gawk at Australian crocodiles while you're in Baltimore? No problem. Stop by the National Aquarium, which houses one of the nation's most spectacular exhibits: Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes. The 65,400 square-foot exhibit houses highly adaptive species from Australia such as the zebra finch, pig-nosed turtle, and grey-headed flying fox. For a more traditional aquarium experience, visitors can check out "Play!"—a bottlenose dolphin show.

SeaWorld Adventure Parks, Orlando, Fla., San Antonio, Texas, San Diego, Calif.

Home of Shamu the killer whale, SeaWorld holds its own as one of America's best aquariums for its sheer delight factor, particularly among children. The adventure park offers everything from shark exhibits to lagoons where SeaWorld rehabilitates rescued sea turtles. Park educators are on site at SeaWorld San Diego's Tide Pool exhibit, where visitors can learn about starfish and other tidal creatures. The main event here, of course, is the Shamu Show, where killer whales perform set pieces with animal trainers.

Oregon Coast Aquarium, Newport, Ore.

All of the classic marine life standbys such as sharks, seals and sea lions can be found at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, but the most uniquely rendered exhibits are often those that change. The Aquarium's current Odd Water exhibit showcases unusual creatures like sting rays and lion fish swimming in a habitat that includes blown glass and life-sized murals of other oceanic creatures. The Aquarium also contains a Sea Bird Aviary exhibiting birds like tufted puffins, black oystercatchers and rhinoceros auklets native to Oregon's coast.

The Florida Aquarium, Tampa, Fla.

While African black-footed penguins are on exhibit at the Florida Aquarium, the diverse aquatic habitats and ecosystems of Florida are the main feature here. Ideal for children, the Aquarium offers everything from a Caribbean-themed outdoor water exhibit where kids can play to a shark-diving activity that allows certified SCUBA divers (at least 15 years of age) to swim with live sharks. Equally inspiring is the Aquarium's Coral Reef Gallery, which simulates a 60-foot dive from shallow-water reefs to deeper waters teeming with eels, squirrelfish, angelfish, and blue tang.

Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, Calif.

The Pacific Ocean is the world's largest and most diverse body of water, and the Aquarium of the Pacific exposes viewers to its magic. From Southern California to Baja, the Northern Pacific and the Tropical Pacific, the Aquarium houses 19 different habitats and 32 "focus" exhibits. The Shark Lagoon is ideal for viewing 150 species sharks, from those you can touch to those you most certainly cannot. The Aquarium's Gulf of California exhibit offers a glimpse into the mesmerizing habitat of garden eels, rainbow wrasses, Mexican lookdowns, and yellowtail surgeonfish, among other species.

Dallas World Aquarium, Dallas, Texas

Right in the heart of Texas, the Dallas World Aquarium offers travelers a chance to encounter the underwater worlds of Southern Australia, Indonesia, Japan and Fiji. Unlike aquariums that focus on their native surroundings, the Dallas World Aquarium represents the aquatic life of four continents, three oceans, and various seas and rivers. Mixing cultural education with amusement, the Aquarium's Mundo Maya immersion exhibit transports visitors to Yucatan's gulf coast as well as highland rainforests, and recently featured a Mayan Performance Troup.

New York Aquarium, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Home of the oldest known aquarium-born seal, 43-year-old "Spook," the New York Aquarium is full of surprises. As part of the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Aquarium's mission is to save wildlife around the globe, and exhibits reflect the organization's educational and conservation efforts. Along with Spook, an adorable walrus calf can be found at the Aquarium, along with "Squirt," a Giant Pacific octopus.

New England Aquarium, Boston, Mass.

African penguins, Atlantic Harbor seals and American lobsters are among the species exhibited at the New England Aquarium, located on Boston's waterfront. The Giant Ocean Tank, the Aquarium's four-story coral reef exhibit, is comprised of 200,000 gallons of salt water and houses Myrtle the green sea turtle—who has lived at the Aquarium since its opening in 1969. The six Gulf of Maine exhibits on the third level of the Aquarium are among the most exciting, featuring an impressive variety of New England's underwater habitats.

Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Ga.

By obtaining a permit from the State of Oregon and sending biologists to venture into the Pacific Ocean, the Georgia Aquarium attained north of 150 Pacific sea nettles—jellyfish abundant on the Oregon Coast—to exhibit. The Aquarium bills itself as the world's largest, with five different galleries depicting distinct habitats and its whale shark habitat, the only exhibit of its kind outside of Asia, holding 6.3 million gallons of water. The Aquarium acquired its whale sharks through negotiations with Taiwan, where the vulnerable species are fished for consumption.

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Gatlinburg, Tenn.

Believe it or not, there are more fish in Ripley's aquarium than there are people living in the town of Gatlinburg, making this the area's premier attraction. Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg has more to offer than adventure-themed rides and childlike pleasures, although the adventure-heavy themes are clearly designed for young ones. The outstanding feature of Ripley's is an acrylic tunnel submerged in a million gallons of water—the world's longest underwater aquarium tunnel—where guests travel along a 340-foot moving walkway.

credited to forbestraveler.com

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