GEOCACHE HIDDEN AT OREGON COAST AQUARIUM

A tenth anniversary time capsule has been secreted at the Oregon Coast Aquarium for geocachers to find with their global positioning system (GPS) receivers. A geocache has been filled with Aquarium memorabilia and Enchanted Seas gifts; located on the Aquarium grounds, providing an interactive exchange for participants in this high-tech version of global orienteering. Geocachers who successfully locate the cache may place a gift into the treasure chest and then take a gift as their own keepsake.

EOCACHE SECRETED AT OREGON COAST AQUARIUM

NEWPORT, Ore -- A tenth anniversary time capsule has been secreted at the Oregon Coast Aquarium for geocachers to find with their global positioning system (GPS) receivers. A geocaching time capsule has been filled with Aquarium memorabilia and "Enchanted Seas" gifts: and located on the Aquarium grounds, providing an interactive exchange for participants in this high-tech version of global orienteering. Geocachers use GPS devices to locate treasure boxes containing a visitor log and gifts to exchange.

Exactly what is "geocaching"?

According to www.geocaching.com, it's an entertaining adventure game for GPS users. Individuals and organizations such as the Aquarum set up caches all over the world and share the locations of these caches on the Internet. GPS users then use these posted location coordinates to find the caches. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. All a geocache visitor is asked to do if they receive something when finding a geocache is to leave something for the cache.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium geocache commemorates the opening of the new "Enchanted Seas" exhibit and the Aquarium's ten years of wonder.

The Aquarium's first geocache is accessible to the public during daylight hours every day of the year except December 25, when the Aquarium is closed. GPS coordinates for the cache are 44 degrees 37.071 minutes North and 124 degrees 02.838 minutes West. This location has been put onto the Internet at http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=22463.

Geocachers who successfully locate the Aquarium's tenth anniversary time capsule are asked to place a gift into the treasure chest and then take a gift from the chest as their own keepsake. This "living time capsule" will evolve just as the Aquarium has throughout the past decade.

Located just south of Newport, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is named one of the top 10 aquariums in the nation by Parade magazine. Immerse yourself in Passages of the Deep and walk beneath the waves through a 200-foot clear underwater tunnel that snakes through three ocean habitats. Encounter sharks, rays and thousands of other fish swimming around you. Experience an exhilarating sensation when you look around and realize you're completely surrounded!

Outdoors, rugged cliffs, caves and pools showcase the many fascinating fish and invertebrates of Oregon's coastal shores. Discover curious seals, sea lions and sea otters. A giant Pacific octopus lurks in an undersea coastal cave, and cartoonlike tufted puffins and other seabirds make their homes in one of the largest walk-through aviaries in North America.

Indoors, experience the magic of "Enchanted Seas" while taking a journey into the mystical world of seahorses, sea dragons and other magical sea creatures worth protecting. This bright new exhibit, opening Memorial Day weekend, features painted murals by artist Michael Cole and displays a collection of ocean gems featuring seahorses hanging onto seagrass with their prehensile tails; a rainbow of tropical reef fishes flitting among the coral; sea dragons trailing frilly appendages; cuttlefish hovering like blimps; and children enjoying gaze-to-'gator vision of baby American alligators in a crawl-through tank. Visitors who crave a bit of the familiar will still find sea nettles, moon jellies and other jewels of the sea included with "Enchanted Seas".

Take a peek "Under the Lily Pad" at the Ocean Exploration Station for an up-close view of frogs, newts and salamanders as you discover there's more to a pond than scum and explore the role these soggy spaces play in a healthy ecosystem. You'll be ribbetted!

Oregon Coast Aquarium admission is $10.25 for adults, $9.25 for seniors (65+), and $6.25 for children (4-13), children three and under are free. Advance tickets can be purchased on-line at www.aquarium.org. Group rates are available when arranged in advance. The Aquarium is open every day except December 25. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Labor Day.

For additional information about the Oregon Coast Aquarium, surf www.aquarium.org or call 541-867-FISH.

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