Korea's largest aquarium opens at Yeosu Expo site

South Korea's largest aquarium has opened at the 2012 Yeosu Expo, just a week ahead of the official kickoff of the three-month-long international fair.

Hanwha Engineering & Construction Corp., which built the aquarium, said the Aqua Planet is a four-story building covering 16,400 metres2 and featuring a 6,000 ton main tank.

The overall size of the aquarium is double the size of existing aquaria in Seoul and Busan and will remain on the site after the Yeosu Expo ends.

A Hanwha spokesperson explained that a total of 33,000 marine animals from 280 species aree on display, including endangered animals as beluga whales, Baikal seals and sea dragons.

The Aqua Planet has South Korea's first 'dome aquarium' feature to give visitors a 360-degree view of a underwater environment. The attraction also features an Amazon eco-terrarium and country's largest jellyfish tank.

The Yeosu Expo, accredited by the Paris-based Bureau of International Expositions, is slated to run from 12th May tto 12th August in the southern port city of Yeosu, 455 kilometres south of Seoul.

The Expo has the theme 'The Living Ocean and Coast' with subthemes of 'Preservation and Sustainable Development of the Ocean and Coast', 'New Resources Technology' and 'Creative Marine Activities'.

More than 100 countries and international organisations are participating in the Yeosu Expo which expects to attract eight million visitors.

For more information go to http://eng.expo2012.kr/main.html