Expo 2008

The mascot of the Expo 2008, Fluvi, before the Basílica del Pilar

The World Expo 2008 was held from June 14 to September 14, 2008 in Zaragoza in Spain under the theme " Water and Sustainable Development". The assignment of the Expo 2008 in Zaragoza on 16 December 2004.

At the Expo, there were three theme pavilions on "Water ": the bridge pavilion on the river Ebro, the water tower, as well as Europe's largest river aquarium.

The mascot of the Expo 2008 was a drop of water called " Fluvi ". The name derives from Latin flumen vitae ( " River of Life ").

To prepare for the expected influx of about 7.5 million visitors - in fact, there were over 5.6 million - the airport is a tram network was expanded and rebuilt, the latter can be completed in a few years. Furthermore, a convention center, a high- tech industrial park, a river aquarium, a new city park and a two-story glass bridge over the Ebro river were built.

The investment of 1.5 billion euros contributed to 70 percent of the Spanish state, to 15 percent, the government of Aragon and to 15 percent the city of Zaragoza.

Participating countries

• Hispanic Heritage
• Europe

At the Expo 2008 was attended by a total of 107 countries.

Participated have all the States of the Hispanic Heritage with the exception of Puerto Rico and the Western Sahara. Also took all the Autonomous Communities of Spain and the two autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla part in the Expo.

It is worth mentioning the participation of Palestine, while the U.S., Israel, Canada and Australia did not participate.

Of the 27 member countries of the European Union to 19 participating in the Expo 2008. 've Not attended by the countries Slovenia, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the UK and the Czech Republic.

As an international organization, the United Nations and the EU were also represented.

Architecture and Expo

The measurement site was 25 hectares. Among the buildings with symbolic significance for the Expo 2008 included:

• The Bridge Pavilion ( Pabellón Puente ), which connects the World Expo site with the Almozara district. It was designed by the Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. Inside, an exhibition on "Water, unique resource " ( Agua, recurso único ) was seen.
• The 76 meter high water tower ( Torre del Agua ) completed the water cycle of the Expo site. The Spanish architect Enrique de Teresa gave the plan the shape of a water droplet. From the observation deck, visitors could overlook the Expo and the city of Zaragoza. Inside the tower, the exhibition " Water for Life" was ( Agua para la vida ) to see. Attractions were a mist - maze and the 21 meter high sculpture SPLASH by Pere Gifre, which was a bursting water drops.,
• The Conference Centre ( Palacio de Congresos ), built by Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos.
• The River Aquarium ( Acuario fluvial ) of the Madrid architect Álvaro Planchuelo showed life in and on five major rivers of the earth. The presentation focused on life in and on the river, as is typical of the Nile, the Amazon, the Mekong, the Darling River and the Ebro. This selection represented river landscapes from five continents. In addition to fish to reptiles and amphibians busy the pool.,
• The " Aragon Pavilion" ( Pavilion of Aragón ) the architects Olano and Mendo.
• The " Spanish Pavilion " ( Pavilion of Spain) by the architect Patxi Mangado from Navarre, which was conditioned with the help of rainwater.
• The footbridge Pasarela del Voluntariado the engineer Javier Manterola and architect Javier Monclús which connects with its length of 277 meters, the two shores without a single pillar above the river. Spectacular is the 75 meters high and 30 degrees inclined supporting mast.
• The " bridge of the third millennium " ( Puente del Tercer Milenio ), which connects the right bank of the Ebro with the World's Fair grounds.
• The Latin American Pavilion Bajo la lluvia, Selva y bosques latinoamericanos ( " Under the rain, jungles and forests of Latin America" ​​) presented the importance of water in the forests of Latin America represents an exhibition went to climatic, pedological, zoological, botanical, and hydrological aspects one. The pavilion was built by the Mexican architect Francisco López Guerra.

Admission Prices

Between 14 June and 14 September 2008, the following admission prices were:

Children under 5 years had free admission, children between 5 and 14 years were given a discount of 40 percent. Youth, seniors, the disabled and the unemployed were given a discount of 25 percent.

The pre-sale began on 1 December 2006, on January 10, 2007, all 30,000 issued for the inhabitants of Saragossa season tickets were sold out.

Gallery

Overview of the Expo 2008

Waterfall at the Expo 2008

Water tower at the Expo 2008

Iceberg at the Expo 2008

Cable car at the Expo 2008