The Moscow Aquarium at VDNH met its first guests dreaming of plunging into the fantastic world of marine life on August 5, 2015. It became the first oceanarium in the world, located in a metropolis and remote from the sea coast for many kilometers.
Description of the Aquarium
Officially, this institution is called the Moskvarium Center for Oceanography and Marine Biology at VDNKh. The oceanarium, the opening of which caused great interest among the residents of the Russian capital and its guests, was placed in a giant unique building. The building with panoramic windows on the facade, one basement and four ground floors occupies an area of 53,000 m 2 .
Its internal space is divided into 3 thematic zones:
- Premises with aquariums inhabited by aquatic inhabitants.
- Hall for aquatic show programs with marine mammals.
- Center with seven swimming pools with dolphins. The opening of the complex is scheduled for the end of 2015-beginning of 2016. While dolphins get used to the new environment.
Visitor reviews emphasize that it is convenient for all people to move inside, including those whose capabilities are limited. The rooms are equipped with ramps, elevators, handrails, between them there are no thresholds that impede movement.
The floors are equipped with restaurants and cafes. There are relaxation areas in their foyer. The stores sell toys, souvenirs and other trifles. Prices for goods and food, according to guests, are high. Bringing drinks, sandwiches and other edibles is forbidden.
Excursions
Sightseeing and thematic tours are organized for guests. They last 45 minutes. Group excursions include 25-45 visitors each. Through panoramic windows, guests observe large marine animals, including representatives of the dolphin family.
Aquariums are divided into thematic expositions. Aquatic living creatures in them are organized in the same way as in the natural ecosystems of different seas. From the visitor’s reviews, it becomes clear that photographing with a flash and making videos in Moskvarium is prohibited.
What kind of exposure to see?
In 80 aquariums, which occupy an area of 12,000 m 2 , demonstrate more than 8000 aquatic inhabitants collected from all over the planet. Animals and fish live in comfortable conditions. Using unique systems in aquariums, they create the appropriate microclimate and produce high-quality water treatment. Animal health is maintained in specialized laboratories equipped with modern facilities.
A variety of living creatures adapted to exist in cold and warm bodies of water were collected at the Aquarium at VDNKh. Migratory slopes settled in the aquariums of the basement , striking in the wingspan and ability to soar on them in the water column.
The ichthyofauna of South America and Africa is represented by electric fish, whose bodies are capable of emitting a wave current and buzzing like transformers. Impulsive fish have an interesting way of self-defense. They scare away enemies with a bang and a buzz.
In aquariums with African ichthyofauna, amazing cichlids and representatives of cyprinids live. Cichlids are fish with a bright blue and golden color, which do not release eggs from their mouths until they turn into fry.
Karpozuby caviar does not die within 2-4 months if the pond has dried up, or it has been carried ashore by the waves. Ichthyologists or aquarists, having found dried eggs among the grains of sand and algae, send them in ordinary mail envelopes.
Unique Aquarium in Moscow (VDNH) invites visitors to see the exposition "Ponds of South America." Here, aquariums are populated by neon fish. The exposition "Giants of the Seas" introduces guests to the habits of dolphins, belugas and killer whales.
In the Reef Hall, wonderful coral gardens appear in front of visitors, among which live worms, sand eels and sea apples live. In the aquariums with an exposition called "Baikal" they found a cozy house of a beautiful seal.
The amazing scope of the oceanarium at VDNKh demonstrates black-sharks and their natural satellite fish in the main aquarium. Next to it scurry fish scurry about. In their company swim philosopher fish and others. Underwater inhabitants, capable of contacting people, were settled in the touch pool. Guests are happy to touch starfish, hermit crabs, ramps and other animals.
Dolphin therapy
In the fall of 2015, it is planned to open a Center with seven pools for swimming with dolphins. Now smart mammals are trained, trained to communicate with people swimming with them in the same pool.
Show programs
Visitors have access to tickets to the aquarium at VDNH, where stunning shows with killer whales are held. Representations are given by dolphins that lived in the Sea of Okhotsk: 10-year-old Narnia, 7-year-old Norom and 4-year-old Juliet. On days when killer whales and other marine mammals do not show, visitors watch their free swimming through panoramic windows.
The Oceanarium at VDNH is equipped with a hall for water shows, accommodating 2,300 people. It is equipped with four scenes adjoining a huge pool in which marine mammals feel at ease. They enjoy somersaulting, swimming, playing with each other in the water and on stage. In response to the bravo cries, dolphins squeal enthusiastically.
Show program "Travel around the world"
The show program is arranged in the main hall, similar to a huge cinema with a swimming pool. The show is accompanied by special effects. The program involves dolphins, belugas, killer whales and seals. In intermissions, documentary tapes about marine life are shown.
How much are the tickets?
The cheapest tickets to the aquarium at VDNH are on weekdays from 10-00 to 16-00. A ticket costs 600 for adults and 400 rubles for children. From 16-00 to 21-00 will have to pay 800 and 500 rubles, respectively. At the same time, children's tickets are sold not only by age, but also by height: for a child of 12 years old or reached 120 centimeters in height (even if he, for example, is 11 years old) will have to pay as for an adult.
On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, tickets are offered to buy for a child for 600 rubles, and for an adult for 1000. It is advantageous to buy family tickets at the Moscow Aquarium (VDNH). A family of two adults and a child visiting the aquarium will cost 2500 rubles. The savings in this case is 100 rubles.
But a family of 2 parents and 2 children does not win anything when buying a family ticket. Its cost is equal to the price of individual tickets. A family ticket costs 3200 rubles. The cost of buying 4 separate tickets is the same.
Cost of 3D excursions
The price for 3D excursions is slightly lower than for regular visits. On weekdays, adults need to pay 500, and for children - 250 rubles. On weekends, the price of an adult ticket is 600, and a child ticket is 300 rubles.
Weekday discounts are given to those visitors who came to the Oceanarium at VDNKh on their birthday. The schedule (the price of tickets depends on it) makes it impossible to get discounts (350 rubles for adults and 150 children) for those on Saturdays and Sundays.
The cost of water shows and diving
Show performances are held at 15-00 or 19-00. The cost of tickets depends on the seats in the hall. It varies in the range of 900-2100 rubles. Diving takes 45 minutes. The price of this pleasure is 7000 rubles.
Certificates for the year
Annual certificates are sold to the Moscow Oceanarium at VDNH. For one person, it costs 800 rubles. For certificates for 2 and 3 persons they sell 1,500 and 2,000, respectively.
How does Moskvarium work
The institution is open daily from 10-00 to 22-00. The last guests in it are launched at 21-00. However, it should be borne in mind that access at this time is open only to aquariums, restaurants, shops and the Chocolate House.
The area where water shows are held can only be reached on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, when they give performances with sea animals. Every month on the last Monday, the institution is closed for visits. This day is declared sanitary.
From the guest reviews it follows that it is best to visit the Aquarium at VDNH until 10 a.m. or in the evening (though tickets are more expensive at this time). These hours are not such a big influx of the public. In the interval between 12 and 16 hours there are a lot of visitors in the institution. At the box office lined up a long line.