Manatee Viewing Center gets educational upgrade
The education center at the Manatee Viewing Center has been revamped.
APOLLO BEACH (Bay News 9) — Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center now has more to offer, with a remodeled education center.
The education center features updated informational displays.
Children can learn about the animals by arranging a manatee’s skeleton and completing educational puzzles.
There’s also a new hurricane simulator to try.
Of course, many visitors come to see the manatees, where they can be seen from the deck.
They typically gather in the water alongside TECO’s Big Bend power station.
“People love the manatees,” said Wendy Anastasiou, TECO environmental specialist. “They’re cute creatures, even though they almost weigh a ton and are about 8-feet long. But people love to look at them, and this is one of the very few places where you can see them in the wild.”
More manatees are expected to make appearances as the weather cools off.
At times, more than 300 of them have been counted in the canal at one time.
The Manatee Viewing Center is open from Nov. 1 to April 15 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily.
It is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Easter.