The study of marine fish and animals in their natural environment is the right, but not accessible way for everyone to learn about the inhabitants of the seas and oceans, therefore it is customary to build aquariums and dolphinariums in different countries where people can see them live.
The Moskvarium at VDNH, the reviews of which are presented in the review, is the fifth center of oceanography and marine biology in the world, which contains killer whales in captivity, which in itself speaks of its size.
The history of the construction of the Moskvarium
Within the framework of the VDNH development project, a concept for the construction of new complexes was developed and planned that would attract visitors to various exhibitions and entertaining shows (reviews are usually always the best advertising for such pavilions and centers). “Moskvarium” was not present in these plans.
The initial idea was to create a dolphinarium, water park, spa, cafe, scuba diving center , swimming pool, 5D movie theater and much more. Later, it was decided to build an oceanic center with a developed infrastructure and a wide range of services, including:
- show programs with sea animals;
- educational programs for children ;
- water rehabilitation courses for children with disabilities;
- excursions;
- cafes and restaurants;
- holding children's birthdays;
- souvenir stalls and much more.
The construction, which began in 2013, was completed in 2015, and on August 5, the Moskvarium Aquarium, reviews and news of the construction stages of which were widely covered by the media, was opened to visitors. The demand for such topics in the enterprise and its relevance was confirmed by the numerous lines in which people stood for hours to personally verify its scale and beauty.
Whatever the reviews of the guests of the complex, Moskvarium is really impressive. This is a huge 5-story building, covering an area of more than 50,000 m2 and being the largest at VDNH, which already makes it unique.
Preparatory work
In order for all the inhabitants of the aquarium to feel comfortable and safe, work was carried out to create conditions as close as possible to the natural habitat.
Since fish, animals and flora from rivers, lakes, seas and oceans from different parts of the planet are represented in the aquariums of the complex, they were equipped with the design and quality of water corresponding to the “original”. Almost 800 tons of liquid was used to fill containers with marine and oceanic “inhabitants”, and 80 tons of sea salt are spent for daily maintenance of water salinity. The same attention is paid to tanks with freshwater inhabitants, for which more than 45 purification systems daily filter water and air every 4 hours, checking their chemical composition and temperature.
The laboratory at the Aquarium carefully monitors the health of all marine animals by conducting a daily physical examination. To make sure that everyone is healthy, they do dental and bacteriological checks, and in case of illness, the patient will undergo a gastroscopy, an X-ray or an ultrasound will be prescribed. The fact that all the animals are in great shape is evidenced by numerous reviews. Moskvarium is fully responsible for the health of its wards, using the best medical equipment.
Mission of the Moskvarium
The purpose of the construction of the aquarium, in addition to its commercial and recreational purposes, was to study the underwater world and its inhabitants in an environment close to the natural one. Workers generously share their knowledge with visitors, conducting training lectures on the ocean ecosystem.
No wonder this company is called the Center for Oceanography and Marine Biology Moskvarium. The aquarium, whose reviews are very, very numerous, is the largest in Europe.
The seminars and screenings of films with special effects in the 5D format held in the auditorium with 2,300 seats allow the guests of the complex to better learn about the world's oceans and its inhabitants.
One of the programs aimed at charity assistance to children with disabilities is dolphin therapy. A special pool is equipped for this, where children can swim with these wise animals under the supervision of trainers.
Dolphins working with children were specially trained by foreign trainers, since in the West this type of therapy is quite well developed.
Thus, Moskvarium (VDNH) receives reviews also from grateful little clients who have been given the opportunity to feel like a little "fish" next to dolphins.
Infrastructure "Moskvarium"
Having already become famous not only in Russia, but also in other countries of the world, the Aquarium at VDNH has a well-planned and developed infrastructure on 5 floors of this complex.
The entire center covers an area of 53,000 m2, and the total volume of tanks, including pools and aquariums, is 25 million liters. Aquarium expositions occupy an area of 12,000 m2, which allows more than 1000 people to inspect them at the same time.
Sections of the complex are divided into levels:
- On the underground floor there is a toilet, information desks, an aquarium and 2 restaurants - Deck and Amazonia. There is also an elevator for people with disabilities.
- The first floor is organizational. There are cash desks, information desks and terminals, ATMs, a dressing room and a photo studio. You can relax and have a bite at the Chocolate Girl, and buy a toy in the form of a sea inhabitant at the World of Water Toys store. On this floor there is also a toilet and a lift for the disabled.
- On the second floor, according to reviews, Moskvarium offers to relax in a specially equipped area for this or visit the bar and restaurant Narnia. Also called the main "heroine" of water shows - killer whale, which can be seen on thematic performances.
- The water show in the Moskvarium, reviews of which are only enthusiastic, can be seen in the auditorium on the 3rd floor. Here is the room "Mother and Child", a toilet.
- The last, fourth floor, for visitors who prefer VIP lodges, there is also equipped with an entrance for people with disabilities. On the floor you can relax and unwind in the VIP bar.
The clear and understandable infrastructure of the aquarium allows you not to wander around the “labyrinths”, but to see all 80 aquariums with their inhabitants and walk through the glass tunnel as soon as possible so that children can get acquainted with all the expositions and not get tired.
Aquarium Expositions
If you look at the huge interest in the new complex at VDNH and the constant filling of its halls, you would think that everyone visited and left feedback about the Moskvarium. Moscow and the Moscow region, as well as other cities of Russia, more precisely, their inhabitants, everyone knows about this water center. This suggests that an oceanarium with such a level of preparation of animals and the quality of staging colorful shows with them is really interesting for people.
In 80 aquariums of the complex, expositions with inhabitants from Baikal and the Galapagos Islands, from the Great Barrier Reef and the rivers of Russia, the Netherlands fjords and the White Sea, Kamchatka and Greenland and many others are presented. In each aquarium, the ecosystem of that part of the reservoir where the inhabitants and plants were brought from was recreated.
One of the pools is specially made so that visitors can not only admire its "residents", but also touch them. This leaves a lasting impression for a lifetime and brings special joy to children.
Aquarium expositions are arranged in a circle, so that visitors go all the way unnoticed by themselves and find themselves at the exit without feeling tired. You can visit the aquarium on any day of the week, except for the last Monday of the month, from 10.00 to 22.00.
Those who want to not only look at outlandish fish, but also enjoy the show with sea animals, it is better to devote this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as only on these days there are water performances.
Glass tunnel
Although most people are encouraged to visit the Moskvarium water show, the visitor reviews of which are only the most enthusiastic, the main “attraction” of this aquarium is its glass tunnel.
In all countries where there are oceanariums, the quality of the glass corridor and the review that it gives are used to judge the complex as a whole.
The tunnel is located inside a huge aquarium, under the water, in which its inhabitants feel at home. The quality of the review depends on the transparency and bending of the glass. A part of the “ocean” with its natural ecosystem surrounds visitors above and beyond the head. The most spectacular sight is sharks swimming in the immediate vicinity of the transparent walls of the tunnel.
If you watch the tunnel from the side of the aquarium, you get the impression that these people are in a glass container in the ocean that the fish are watching. This is a favorite place for visitors, because if you are lucky you can take a photo with a shark or a slope over your shoulder, and then share it with your friends.
Inhabitants of the Moskvarium
Superiority in popularity is shared by killer whales and sharks. Killer whales are a rarity in aquariums because of their huge size and weight, but the Moscow Aquarium is the fifth complex in the world where they are.
Among the three killer whales, the largest is Narnia, whose weight reaches three tons. A unique pool allows them to participate in the show, the depth of which, like the height of the transparent dome above it, is 14 m, which allows animals to make incredible jumps and somersaults. In scale, it puts on a par with the best aquariums in the world "Moskvarium". Reviews of the show with killer whales suggest that building a pool of this size was the right decision from a commercial point of view.
Watching sharks allows you to get to know them better. As a rule, for most visitors they are associated with dangerous individuals, which are better not to be found in their natural environment. But everyone is happy to take pictures with them behind them.
Of no less interest, especially in children, are the "glass" fish, in which the skeleton is clearly visible. They live in the waters of India, Sumatra, Borneo, Java and Sri Lanka. Since there is not much information about these interesting creatures, their appearance in front of an unprepared audience always causes delight.
Large stingrays and jellyfish are also in demand among the inhabitants of the aquarium. Interesting coral reefs, similar to a real corner of the ocean, with all their "lodgers" - fish and plants.
The audience’s favorites are funny seals and charming dolphins, who also participate in all performances.
In total, 8000 sea and river inhabitants are represented in the aquarium, which can be viewed all day, and still there will not be enough time to get acquainted with everyone.
Show "Travel around the world"
Long before its opening, it created the Moskvarium Aquarium (VDNH) show, reviews of which today encourage thousands of visitors to visit this wonderful place. For a whole year and a half, preparations were underway, which required not only writing a single story about the inhabitants of the oceans, but also staging numbers with sea animals.
28 instructors conducted training with their pets, and they took 2 times a week lessons in choreography from the famous director of dance shows Svetlana Lutoshkina. All special effects and actions of each participant, whether an animal or a person, are thought out and worked out to the smallest detail, which puts them at the level of a professional theatrical production, which was sought by the team of such a structure as the Moskvarium Aquarium. The show "World Travel", reviews of which are only enthusiastic, educates children in an entertaining way and reminds their parents that there is a world next to them that needs their protection and love.
The presentation tells the story of each ocean with a large screen showing their depth and the fish and animals that live there. It also tells where the participants in the water show came from - killer whales, seals, dolphins, walruses and belugas.
Both participants and spectators believe that the mission of the show, which is presented by Moskvarium, conceived by the creators, is fully implemented. “Around the world travel” (the reviews of those who watched it, as already mentioned, only enthusiastic) makes small hearts joyfully freeze at the sight of tricks of marine animals, children go home, in love with a previously unfamiliar world. This gives us hope that a whole generation of people will grow up, for whom the World Ocean will become not only a place for oil and fish production.
The Lost World Show
In addition to the story of the four oceans, the talented team of the aquarium prepared a New Year's gift for children in the form of a new show with sea animals “The Lost World”. Based on the plot of the novel “Children of Captain Grant,” the presentation tells how two children, having received news from their father, went in search of him.
They had to visit the underwater world of Atlantis, escape from treacherous mermaids and sweet sirens, withstand the cold of the Arctic Ocean and the northern seas - all this in order to return dad home before the end of the chimes.
The result was a bright, spectacular sight, the main characters of which were funny fur seals, funny dolphins, majestic killer whales, serious mustachioed walruses and playful belugas. The directors and performers of the show created the only water musical with marine animals to date.
This is the whole “Moskvarium” - the performance, reviews of which are instantly scattered throughout Russia, is not just another show. It is a world-famous theatrical performance with marine inhabitants in the lead roles.
Further development of the aquarium
An oceanarium with such a talented team has a great future. In 2016, new services will appear, including the long-awaited opportunity to swim with dolphins in one of 7 pools. Children and their parents are waiting for new shows with charismatic and charming sea animals.
Further study of the residents of the Moskvarium will increase the number of seminars and informative lectures on the water world and its problems, which will only attract even more people who want to join the "fairy tale" of the underwater life of its inhabitants.