The Willow Dome

On the highway between Admont and Hieflau you will find a truly exciting project of nature and environmental education: the Willow Dome.  The living green cover of this unique “building of trees“ hides the secrets of a fascinating world.

Have you ever met a bark beetle “face to face”?  Or would you like to see how the sophisticated labium or “mask” of a dragonfly larva turns into a really “frightening” and efficient device for capturing prey under the multiple enlargement of a microscope?  Did you know that this “mask” has served as a model for science-fiction characters like in “Alien“?  
The national park research laboratory of the Willow Dome invites young and adult visitors alike to discover the fascinating micro-cosmos of our natural environment: investigate the bustling activity in a drop of lake or river water; find out more about the secret inhabitants behind the crumbling bark of an old giant tree, or observe the surprising diversity of living creatures in a hand full of forest soil.
 
State-of-the-art presentation methods and high performance microscopes complement the exciting and diversified information by the national park guides.  The attractive programme covers a great variety of themes and highlights regarding the manifold ecological aspects of the Gesaeuse National Park and runs like a red thread through the whole year. 
Location: Gesaeuse National Park, Willow Dome
on the Gesaeuse highway between Admont and Hieflau, at the junction to Johnsbach.
 
Closed in winter. 
 
www.nationalpark.co.at >> Willow Dome

08.05.2006,