Photo: architectural monuments, parks and recreation, other places, VDNKh, Moscow

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VDNKh: Exhibitions and Entertainment for the Whole Family

Architectural Monuments • Parks and recreation • Other places

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The Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy, or simply VDNKh, is well known to every Muscovite from childhood. While times and ideologies changed, the exhibition remained a huge open-air park, where whole families came on weekends and holidays to take a walk, look at pavilions with horses and visit exhibitions of achievements of national economy, admire the unusual fountains and eat doughnuts.

VDNKh opened in Moscow in 1939 and was called the First All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. Since then, its name has changed several times, until 2014, when the city authorities decided to revive the historical appearance of VDNKh. Today, the VDNKh is united with the Ostankino Park and Moscow Botanical Garden. There are dozens of architectural masterpieces, park constructions, unique fountains and sculptures here, including the famous “Worker and Kolkhoz Woman” statue by Vera Mukhina. VDNKh annually holds about 100 international exhibitions and festivals. The extrinsic value of VDNH is the pavilions of the former USSR Republics. An extensive program was launched in 2014 to restore the historic buildings of the pavilions and return them to the respective countries. Each of these pavilions is expected to represent the main achievements and national traditions of every country. There are also thematic pavilions at VDNKh, like the "Space" pavilion, where you can see the reduced copies of lunar rovers and models of cosmodromes, as well as try yourself as a space traveler in simulator cabins. In addition, the area of VDNKh houses a “Moskvarium” center of oceanography and marine biology – the largest oceanarium in Europe! The amount of sea water in 80 local aquariums exceeds 25 million liters! The oceanarium contains more than seven thousand species of marine animals: from killer whales, dolphins and white whales to sharks and moray eels. Spectacular water shows are held here, and those wishing can ride on the back of the dolphin in a special pool. In summer all the sights of the huge complex can be viewed by bicycle or roller skates, and in winter you better take skates and master the local skating rink, which is considered the largest in the country. It can hold 4,500 people at a time.

VDNKh: Exhibitions and Entertainment for the Whole Family

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