The Biosphere museum (La Biosphère) is the most unusual one in Canada, as it is shaped like a soap bubble. Located in Montreal, in Jean-Drapeau Park on Saint Helen’s Island, it is dedicated to the environment and water resources.

The structure looks like a giant ball. Its elements copy the shape of molecular compounds of allotropic forms of carbon. Architect and designer Richard Buckminster Fuller created the project for the Biosphere museum building, and the elements of the dome’s connection were named the «fullerenes». These constructions are the signature mark of the architect. The dome is 76 meters in diameter and 62 meters high. It is made of steel. To control the temperature inside, a complex system of shades was developed for the steel skeleton, painted with acrylic paint.

This building is the most striking facility that has been preserved since Expo 67. There is a remarkable observation deck on the top floor of the museum, which offers impressive 360-degree views. The museum is powered by solar panels.

After the Expo, the facility continued to be used: it was possible to visit 4 of the 7 levels and see the 37-meter moving staircase. But a massive fire in 1976 caused the closure of the building. In 1990, it was bought by the organization called Environment and Climate Change Canada that carried out a complete reconstruction there. Museum premises were built inside the dome. The official opening of the museum took place on June 5, 1995.

The museum promotes the ideas of saving water resources, fighting climate change, and ensuring the sustainability of natural resources. Various halls are dedicated to the problem of environmental pollution. Visitors can get to know the Great Lakes ecosystem. You don’t have a chance to be unmoved by the interactive water exhibition: here, you can study such phenomena as the hydrologic cycle, the physical laws associated with water.

Also, there is an eco-house on the territory of the museum. It is fully powered by solar panels installed on the roof. One of its walls on the outside is a lawn: its greenery helps the house keep warm in winter while cooling it in summer. Everything inside the house is also arranged according to the idea of environmental friendliness and resource-saving.