The largest aquarium in Russia and one of the largest in all of Europe has opened its doors inside Moscow’s historic VDNKh exhibition centre as part of a large-scale redevelopment.

The VDNKh – a relic of the Soviet era which is part way through a €1.5bn (US$1.9bn, £1.2bn) revamp as modern Russia seeks to glorify its past under President Vladimir Putin – has welcomed the 53,000sq m (570,500sq ft) aquarium, which features a variety of rare marine life including orcas and dolphins, as its newest addition.

Mosquarium is divided into three areas: the aquarium, whale pools and its centre for swimming with dolphins. The aquarium holds more than 250 different species of fish, with sea creatures collected from across the world. Despite mounting opposition against such practices, the aquarium’s three whales will perform for crowds in special shows several times a week. Visitors will also soon be able to swim with dolphins once the cetaceans have acclimatised to their new surroundings.

After opening on 5 August, the aquarium – which is more than ten times the size of its nearest rival in Moscow – welcomed more than 82,000 people in its first five days of operation.

Russia has suffered a 20 per cent drop in the number of international tourists visiting the country and it’s hoped the revival of the VDNKh and other spaces across the city could help to tempt tourists back to Moscow.

Orcas to be centrepoint of new aquarium at VDNKh in Moscow