EUROPE'S LARGEST OCEANARIUM BUILT IN MOSCOW AT VDNH

The interest in the new oceanarium demonstrated by Muscovites and visitors to the capital surpassed the wildest expectations of marketers. The Director of the Oceanography and Marine Biology Centre, Marina Zhuravleva, informed that on the opening day, August 5, 2015, the Moskvarium was visited by over 14,000 people. 

In the first days after the opening the “Moskvarium”'s popularity ran high

The first thing the visitors can see is the spacious hall of the “Moskvarium”. The oceanarium built into the basement of the Moscow Shopping Centre “RIO” has a very limited space and, therefore, the functionality. At the same time our designers could develop the aquarium exposition of the “Moskvarium” on a larger scale. 

The “Moskvarium” accomodates three cafes, a phytobar and a restaurant

You can enter the huge building of Moskvarium absolutely free, just to drink coffee or even have lunch in one of cafes and restaurants located on different floors. Also, sharks, rays and other fish of the main sea aquarium can be watched from the above free of charge. You can also buy souvenirs in the marine shop. However, it's better to do it after exploring the entire exhibition. 

You can buy tickets online or in 16 ticket offices of the oceanarium

Then you may go down the stairs or escalator or elevator (especially for disabled people). 

The Oceanarium entrance area

The Aquarium can be accessed down the stairs, by escalator or elevator 

Before exploring the exposition you can view the map and learn about the places to visit, where you can relax, have a snack or go to WC.

A “Moskvarium” map

In the “Moskvarium” you will not see numerous cages with monkeys and other terrestrial animals which complemented the aquarium expositions in our first oceanariums in Voronezh and Moscow. The expositional subject of the “Moskvarium” as the Center of Oceanography and Marine Biology is limited to demonstration and study of aquatic organisms, i.e. animals adapted to living in the aquatic environment. The “Moskvarium” collection includes about 500 species of aquatic animals, including those which no other Russian oceanarium has, e.g. cuttlefish or boxfish. However, as an exception, the exposition "Waters of South America" includes two species of birds. Note that in some cases the inhabitants indicated on the exposition scheme may be temporarily moved to quarantine or other aquariums.

How long does it take to explore one aquarium and its diverse inhabitants? A minute, three, ten? It is clear that a minute is not enough. You should read what is written on the plates and find in the aquarium every fish whose species and characteristics you have just learned. On average it takes 5 minutes to explore an aquarium. Multiply 5 by 80 (actually, there are more than 80 aquariums). Almost a whole working day! You might also want to eat, drink, and so on. The “Moskvarium” ensures the satisfaction of physical needs of visitors, even those on wheelchairs, without leaving the aquarium exhibition.

The journey through the planet’s water bodies will be facilitated by the map of the oceanarium or rather its parts corresponding to certain expositions.      

The first expositional hall

The first aquarium exposition is called “The Sea Wanderers”. Here, in a 150 cubic meters sea life aquarium with two large acrylic windows the cow-nosed rays demonstrate their leisurely swimming resembling to the flight of flocks of birds. The cow-nosed rays share the space of aquarium with eagle rays and axhead sharks.  

The Aquarium with stingrays contains 150 cubic meters of seawater

Further, visitors explore the expositions "Russian freshwater Fish", "Freshwater predators", "Fish-crocodile", "Giant fish of Asia", "White Sea", "Sea of Japan". 

On the photo on the left, the second window of the aquarium with rays

The oceanarium is open from 10 a.m. till 10:00 p.m. We can show you how the exposition looks with and without visitors.

The exposition "Freshwater Giants" is on the left, "The White Sea" on the right

In the circular aquarium of 14 cubic meters, visitors observe the gregarious behavior of fish. The model species of schooling fish is peled inhabiting cold-water rivers and lakes of Russia. 

In the circular aquarium the peled continuously swim in circles

Behind the circular aquarium the exposition of Black Sea fauna and fish from Russian small rivers is located. Perhaps no other oceanarium can boast such extensive collection of fish inhabiting the waters of Russia. The same expositional hall accomodates aquariums with crabs, lobsters and other aquatic organisms of similar biotopes. 

Here ends the first expositional hall

The exposition "Waters of Africa"

Inside the hexagonal column there are 6 aquariums with beautiful fish living for just one season in the drying up African water bodies. For example, Nothobranchius foerschi (see next photo).

Nothobranchius foerschi in the exposition "Waters of Africa"

A giant freshwater aquarium can be viewed from two levels of the “Moskvarium”. Its most remarkable inhabitants are arapaimas, catfish and pacu.

The exposition includes many models of sea animals which are missing from aquariums due to obvious reasons. The most notable are the model of a young cachalot and a giant squid.

At the entrance to the exposition "Reef Hall" kids can have a rest

Here, on the tables there are always color markers to draw on the walls. Adults leave their autographs as well.

The children's corner at the entrance to the "Reef Hall"

The "Reef Hall" resembles the interior of an underwater cave with flashing lights at the top.

 The exposition "Reef Hall"

The exposition "Reef Hall"

Each aquarium of the "Reef Hall" differs from the other by its inhabitants

The exposition "Reef Hall" 

 
The shells have a backlight with changing color, and many visitors are delighted to take pictures of each other in front of it.        

The audio-interactive area "At Sea Bottom"