scene of the opening ceremony

scene of the opening ceremony

Spanish King Juan Carlos yesterday inaugurated the Expo 2008 themed "Water and Sustainable Development" in the northeastern city of Zaragoza.

Addressing the opening ceremony, the king said that the three-month Expo is to "sensitize the world about how precious the water is and it is not substitutable for man and the Earth."

The king hailed the expo as a step to promote management and conservation of natural resources, "fighting against the environment deterioration and the climate change."

Officials described the expo as the biggest water forum on the Earth, with 105 countries, the Spanish autonomy communities and international organizations participating in the event.

Zaragoza has invested 2.9 billion euros (US$4.5 billion) to build the exposition site on the banks of the Ebro River and spruce up the city of 600,000 for the three-month expo. Private sponsors have chipped in another 2 billion euros (US$3.12 billion).

Doors to the public open today. Organizers expect 6 million visitors.

The show is the first of a new, scaled-down format of an event formerly known as a universal exposition.

Zaragoza, located halfway between Madrid and Barcelona, chose the theme of water as it is an issue of growing concern to the world and one that constantly stirs debates, and sometimes disputes, in this drought-affected country.

Authorities also hope the fair will help launch the city internationally.

One of the show's additions to the city is a bridge designed by Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid, winner in 2004 of a Pritzker prize, the field's top honor.

scene of the opening ceremony

the Zaragoza Expo site

the Zaragoza Expo site

Zaragoza Expo mascot Fluvi