Moscow news
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31-Jan-2008
Moscow Plans for Huge Aquariums
For those who feel a bit cut off from the sea here in Moscow, you may be pleased to hear that the Moscow zoo at Krasnopresnenskaya will soon be introducing a huge aquarium with glass underwater passages. You can escape the slush and pollution of the city streets and, for the duration of your visit, experience an almost underwater existence as you make your way through the transparent corridors and marvel at the different species of fish.
It is, however, a little early for excitement just yet, according to the zoo construction management. Work on the aquarium, which is to be built on the corner of Volkov Pereulok and Krasnaya Presnya Ulitsa, has not yet begun and so is still a long way from completion. "This territory belongs to the zoo," the management told Itar-Tass.
"An old building stands there now and that is where a comfortable residence for the fish is to be built." The aquarium will occupy two levels of a five storey complex. Included in the project is a lecture room, an auditorium and a café. Also part of the plans is the building of a scientific information center with a cinema for showing scientific and educational films. The authorities anticipate that it will be finished during the course of 2010.
If you cannot envisage waiting that long to see the ambitious maritime spectacle, there is already an exotorium at the zoo. Although exotoria usually house amphibians and reptiles the Moscow zoo's one specialises in reef life. The new aquarium will however be much bigger and present a significantly wider array of sea animals.
Another display of aquatic life is to open sooner on Poklonnaya Gora, or Victory Park on Kutu?zovsky Prospekt. Here an oceanarium, which will house more than 6 thousand species of fish and underwater animals, including tropical fish and reptiles, is to appear in 2009 and is predicted to be the largest in Europe (it was originally planned to open in 2005). The overall area of the complex will be 180 thousand square meters and will include an underwater theater, research laboratory and diving club. Like the Moscow zoo's aquarium, the Oceanarium will also run themed exhibitions and lectures.
When & Where
Zoo Hours - Monday - Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Cash desk closes 4:00 p.m.
Ticket Prices: Adults 150 rubles; Children free
Exotorium Hours - Monday - Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Adults 50 rubles, Children under 7 free
The Moscow News