- Address: Sadama 1, 51004, Tartu, Estonia;
- Opened: 1 September 1997;
- Operating time: Mon. - Th. from 10:00 to 19:00, Fri, Sat. from 10:00 to 20:00;
- Phone: +372 745 6789;
- Website: ahhaa.ee.
Traveling around Estonia , you can not only admire the beautiful natural views, taste delicious dishes of national cuisine, but also expand knowledge in the scientific field. To do this, visit the scientific and entertainment center "AHHAA", which is located in the city of Tartu . Thus АХХА is an abbreviation, instead of the Estonian name.
What is the famous scientific center "AHHAA"?
It is rather unusual to see in the old city a futuristic building, looking like a landing ship. Nevertheless, it is here that the largest in the Baltic center is located, in which science is presented as a game. Regardless of age, it is interesting for adults and children alike. The whole territory of the center is a total delight and a cultural shock from how complex things and study can be entertaining.
The purpose of the scientific and educational center "AHHAA" is to motivate people to learn, to get acquainted with the natural sciences. In the museum, you can touch all the exhibits, learn a lot about the laws of physics, about living nature. In the center there are both permanent and temporary exposures.
History of creation
The scientific center "AHHAA" appeared as a project of the University of Tartu in 1997 on September 1, to which the state and the mayoralty attached their hands. First non-profit association was located in the premises of the Tartu Observatory, and then moved to the shopping center Lõunakeskus in 2009. And only on May 7, 2011 the center had its own building.
The activity completely corresponds to the motto of the organization - "We think playfully!", And the main training method can be described as "Try it yourself!". The center occupies four floors and a territory of 3 km² meters, where there are thematic exhibitions and interactive expositions.
To unite, even a spherical planetarium was built, which is located apart from the main building. For the frame was chosen such a building material as monolithic reinforced concrete, and the domes and arcs are made of glued wood.
Activities of the Center
Miracles begin already at the entrance to the building. First the visitor enters the largest hall, where under the dome is located the sphere of Hobermann. It is only necessary to stand on a special platform, as it begins to expand. However, the same reaction will follow if we put the weights on the platform (they already lay nearby in advance).
Once in the center, be sure to inspect the following locations:
- cafe "Newton" ;
- workshops ;
- scientific theater ;
- planetarium ;
- scientific shop .
Among the permanent exhibitions, the halls devoted to technology, living nature are especially interesting. Both are whole worlds in which the laws of nature are available.
The hall of living nature is dedicated to living creatures, where an aquarium with a capacity of 6000 liters is installed. In the hall there is an incubator, in which eggs are constantly placed, so that a small miracle can be seen at any time. Newborn chickens remain in the incubator for several days, so you can capture them for memory.
For children, the best cognitive entertainment will be the firing of a water cannon, the construction of a water pipe or dam, and the device of a real tornado.
Temporary exposures
If permanent exhibitions can be studied along and across, then it is almost impossible to predict which topic will be temporary. Once in a fascinating form was described Baltic herring - fish from the Baltic Sea. Then came the year when the temporary exposition was dedicated to dinosaurs. During the work the lucky ones learned not only how huge reptiles had affected human life, but also how they multiplied.
Since May 2017, there is a replacement exhibition dedicated to the secrets of the body. At the same time, all the exhibits are real parts of the human body, which have been preserved thanks to innovative technologies. Find out the topic of the exhibition before the trip to Estonia on the official website of the center.
You can see the dome of the planetarium before entering the building. The second such in the whole world is no longer to be found, so it was made spherical. Here, before the visitors, a whole world opens into the Universe, the stars are located not only over their heads, but also under their feet.
Guests are offered to participate in one of two programs to choose from - a trip to the Cosmos through the entire Solar System or to see an exhibition of space technology. To accommodate all comers, the planetarium can not, so the visit is consistent with the direction of the Center two weeks before the day of X.
You can also visit the planetarium separately from the center, only in this case the ticket price will be slightly higher. Each program lasts no more than 25 minutes, every day from 11 am to 18 - 20 (on weekends) in Estonian, English and Russian.
The workshops and other facilities of the scientific center
In the center you can visit workshops where children and adults learn how to wash their hands in different countries, have fun with soap bubbles. The hall is especially interesting to younger generations, because they are told about the colors of the rainbow, favorite soda, DNA and many other things that they encounter in everyday life. The lesson lasts 45 minutes, and the topic can be any.
In the scientific theater, real representations are given from the "life" of chemistry, physics or other sciences. Performances are given on weekdays and on Sundays at 13:00 and 16:00. On Saturdays three times - at 13, 15 and 17 hours. The hall has 70 seats. If you bought a ticket to AHKhAA, the show will be free.
The assortment of the scientific store is unusual, like everything in the center. Here we sell household robots, starry sky maps and models of the human body. There are even sweets-jokes, for example, lollipops with bugs.
Children from 10 to 13 years can go to an independent study of the center, if the parents will write them down. The guys are under the supervision of experienced instructors, get a sleeper (travel time per day) and three meals a day.
Information about the center for tourists
The entrance to the AHHAA science center is chargeable - for adults it is 13 euros, and for students and pensioners 10 euro. You can purchase a family ticket for one or two adults plus minor children of this family. It is interesting that, having bought a ticket to the scientific and educational center, you can get a 20% discount in the aqua park "Aura" , which is nearby, as well as 10% for all the menu in the restaurant "Ryandur". The center also offers additional services, for example, to spend the birthday of the child here, or to lease exhibits for scientific meetings.
How to get there?
Getting to the center is easy, especially if travelers came by bus in Tartu , the AHHAA Science Center is located near the stop. If the route was different, then you should find Sadama Street and turn from Mc Donald's to the left.