Featured Image: Smithsonian Mag/Ryan Donnell
Although the fear-inspiring Megalodon Shark is long extinct, you will have the chance to meet one face to face soon. The National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. recreated a life-sized sculpture of the fossilized king of the oceans and just recently opened the exhibition to the public.
In its prime, these sharks could grow to 60 feet long. As the largest sharks to ever live, these animals ruled the sea with their massive appetite. However, millions of years ago these sharks went extinct. Paleontologists are still not quite sure why they have vanished, but the fossilized remains have fascinated naturalists and casual observers for decades.
Gary Stabb is the artist who created the 52 foot long model of the shark using a combination of fiberglass, clay, and foam pieces. Stabb says, “my job is not to have a style but rather to be the animal- to make that thing as believable as possible.”
If you have ever wanted the chance to come face to face with megalodon, then your opportunity is here. Visit The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and head to their new exhibit, Hall of Fossils – Deep Time this summer.
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