2008  Zaragoza | |
|---|---|
 Expo 2008 official logo | |
| Overview | |
| BIE-class | Specialized exposition |
| Category | International Recognized Exhibition |
| Name | Expo 2008 |
| Area | 25 hectares (62 acres) |
| Visitors | 5,650,941 |
| Mascot | Fluvi |
| Participant(s) | |
| Countries | 104 |
| Organizations | 21 |
| Location | |
| Country |  Spain |
| City | Zaragoza |
| Coordinates | 41°40′8.58″N 0°54′10.27″W / 41.6690500°N 0.9028528°W |
| Timeline | |
| Bidding | June 2003 |
| Awarded | 16 December 2004 |
| Opening | 14 June 2008 |
| Closure | 14 September 2008 |
| Specialized expositions | |
| Previous | Expo '98 in Lisbon |
| Next | Expo 2012 in Yeosu |
| Universal expositions | |
| Previous | Expo 2005 in Aichi |
| Next | Expo 2010 in Shanghai |
| Horticultural expositions | |
| Previous | Expo 2006 in Chiang Mai |
| Next | Expo 2012 in Venlo |
Expo 2008 was an international exposition held from Saturday 14 June to Sunday 14 September 2008 in Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain with the theme of "Water and Sustainable Development". The exposition was placed in a meander of the river Ebro. It was coordinated by the Bureau International des Expositions, the organization responsible for sanctioning World's Fairs.[1]
Zaragoza, host city for the international exposition, is the administrative and financial capital of the autonomous community of Aragon and Spain's fifth most populous city. Zaragoza was elected the host city of Expo 2008 on 16 December 2004 by the BIE, beating Thessaloniki (Greece) and Trieste (Italy).
The exhibition's most emblematic buildings were the Water Tower, an 80-metre-high transparent building designed by Enrique de Teresa to evoke a drop of water, Zaha Hadid's Bridge Pavilion, and the river aquarium. The exposition site also hosted several events, including a daily parade by Cirque du Soleil called The Awakening of the Serpent.[1]
Aside from the countries, non-government organizations and private companies took part in Expo 2008, always with the idea of water and sustainable development. Prior to the event, the Expo 2008 host committee estimated that the exposition could generate 135 million euros in receipts for admission to the exhibition center.
- ^ a b "2008 Zaragoza". www.bie-paris.org. Retrieved 13 January 2024.