Discover the Mystery of the Nile at Michigan's Only IMAX(R) Dome Theatre

Discover the Mystery of the Nile at Michigan's Only IMAX(R) Dome Theatre

New Film Sponsored by GM Goodwrench Opens Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006

DETROIT, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Experience the world's greatest and deadliest river as never before in all the splendor of the 3.5-story high IMAX(R) Dome Theatre when Mystery of the Nile opens on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006 at The New Detroit Science Center.

Mystery of the Nile tells the story of an emotional and historic expedition while exploring the cultural and environmental links between the Ethiopian, Sudanese and Egyptian civilizations. Both a captivating human adventure and a serious in-depth look at this fascinating yet little-known region, Mystery of the Nile promises to deliver an exciting and educational IMAX(R) experience.

Over the past century, dozens of explorers have attempted to run the Nile River in a single expedition, a feat that has eluded humankind for centuries -- until now. On Dec. 25, 2003, geophysicist Pasquale Scaturro and a team of explorers set out on an epic quest to become the first to complete a full descent of the world's greatest river, the Blue Nile and the Nile, from source to sea. Four months later, on April 28, 2004, Pasquale and his expedition partner Gordon Brown reached the mouth of the Nile at the Mediterranean Sea, becoming the first in recorded history to complete this 3,260-mile journey. Their amazing voyage is the basis for Mystery of the Nile.

For 114 days, the Nile explorers and their crew faced nearly insurmountable challenges as they made their way down the Blue Nile and Nile river in two rafts and a kayak, traversing three countries in some of the world's remotest regions. Deadly crocodiles and hippos, the world's most dangerous rapids, armed bandits, AK-47-toting militia, blinding sandstorms, exposure to malaria, and the relentless heat of the fierce desert sun are just some of the obstacles they faced -- all while documenting their epic journey with an IMAX(R) camera and two videocams.

Mystery of the Nile brings the expedition's bold voyage to life with unmistakable realism. Audiences will feel like they are riding shotgun on the team's 16-foot rafts as they crash through the rapids in Ethiopia's remote desert canyons. They will feel the intense heat as the team crosses the desert plains of Sudan on their way to Khartoum where the Blue Nile merges with the White Nile to form the Nile proper. They will witness the human struggle inherent in such an arduous journey and watch as the crew overcomes feelings of fear and frustration. But more than just a chronicle of a groundbreaking expedition, Mystery of the Nile reveals a wondrous region that is host to abundant historical, cultural, scientific and natural treasures, where a connection to the ancient past informs our understanding of the rapidly changing future.

Preview Events

Teachers will have an opportunity to preview the film and receive a complimentary copy of the Mystery of the Nile Educator Guide on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006 from 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Admission is free with valid educator identification. Interested teachers should RSVP to educatorevents@sciencedetroit.org by Feb. 6, 2006. Sponsored by Harcourt School Publishers.

Science Center Members will have an opportunity to discover Mystery of the Nile at the Journey to the Nile Preview on Friday, Feb. 10, 2006 from 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Admission is free for Science Center Members with a valid Membership Card.

The IMAX(R) Dome Theatre is the only domed theater in Michigan. It is also one of only 62 IMAX(R) Dome Theatres in the world. The IMAX(R) screen measures 3.5 stories tall and 65.7 feet in diameter, seats 238 guests and delivers the highest quality in cinematic viewing in the world. The theater presents films that entertain as well as educate. Along with each film, teachers can download a guide for in-class activities related to the film. As part of the Science Center's extensive renovation and expansion in 2001, the IMAX(R) Dome Theatre received a new state-of-the-art sound system with sound enhancements (for hearing impaired visitors), translated audio tracks (for non-English speaking visitors), and a new 15,000-watt lamp house to increase the brightness of the dome image.

The New Detroit Science Center features 110,000 square feet of scientific exploration, including Michigan's only IMAX(R) Dome Theatre; the Dassault Systemes Planetarium; the Ford Learning Resource Center; the DTE Energy Sparks Theater; the DaimlerChrysler Science Stage; an 8,700 square-foot Science Hall for traveling exhibits; five exhibit laboratories -- Space Laboratory, General Motors Motion Laboratory, Dow Foundation Life Sciences Laboratory, Waves & Vibrations Laboratory, and Jean and Sam Frankel Matter & Energy Laboratory; an SBC Children's Gallery for pint-size scientists; and a Special Events Lobby. It has served more than 1.3 million visitors since its grand re-opening on July 28, 2001. For more information, please call 313-577-8400 or visit the website, http://www.detroitsciencecenter.org/ .

Source: The New Detroit Science Center

CONTACT: Kelly Fulford, Director of PR & Marketing of The New Detroit
Science Center, +1-313-577-8400 x430, +1-313-832-1623 (fax),
kfulford@sciencedetroit.org

Web site: http://www.detroitsciencecenter.org/

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