Hidden just beneath the cool waters of the Pacific lie magnificent forests of giant kelp, a type of brown algae. Countless fish, birds, invertebrates and marine mammals make these lush groves their home. Some hide in the leafy canopy floating on the water's surface; some drift among the swaying strands below; and others prefer the rocky bottom, where the giant kelp is anchored to the ocean floor.

IN THIS EXHIBIT: California Kelp
The steep, rocky coastline of southern California is home to towering forests of giant kelp, the redwoods of the undersea world. This exhibit shows three sections of a single giant kelp at different depths. At left, the kelp is anchored by a holdfast to the rocky bottom 30 meters (100 feet) below the surface; in the center, fish browse among the swaying fronds halfway down; and at right, the tangled canopy floats on the water's surface.