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Expo Zaragoza 2008, "Water and Sustainable Development", which can be visited from 14 June until 14 September, is much more than an exhibition devoted to water: it offers a wide range of exhibition, fun and cultural events and seeks to stimulate reflection, debate and solutions in relation to water and sustainability. 

What does the exhibition consist of?

Expo Zaragoza 2008 is structured around four subtopics which enable the interpretation of the principal slogan, Water and Sustainable Development. They are: water as a unique resource, water for life, waterscapes and water as an element linking people.

One of the most interesting part of the Expo Zaragoza ground is the Water Platform, a knowledge, debate and experience centre aimed at reorientating and improving the existing water and sustainable development models and systems for the twenty-first century. The subject matter at this venue will change every couple of weeks; varying from climate change, and water in food production, to water in education and culture, or water shared by all. 

Pavilions and participating countries

Expo Zaragoza features 102 participating countries, representing over 50% of the world population. The participating countries include. China, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Algeria, Russia, Mexico, Belgium, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nigeria and Senegal.

The distribution of the pavilions, which occupy an area measuring over 61,000 metres squared, is split between eight large buildings. In this respect, you will find a space that is organised according to the large ecographical areas of the world: islands and coasts, temperate forests, tropical forests, mountains, the Mediterranean, and meadows, steppes and savannahs. 

The Water Tower

One of the most representative buildings of Expo Zaragoza, perhaps the most outstanding of those you will visit, is the Water Tower. A construction that is 76 metres tall, designed by the architect Enrique de Teresa, which stands out both for its large glazed area and for its special water droplet shape. Inside you can enjoy the “Water for life” exhibition, an artistic installation offering an experience that requires your five senses which has opted for a modern design and new audiovisual technology, as well as housing the building’s scientific content.

Countless shows

Expo Zaragoza is a genuinely spectacular event. Throughout the three months that it is on, its cultural and leisure offering is truly impressive: more than 3400 performances by more than 350 street theatre, classical theatre, cabaret, classical music, pop music, Aragonese folklore and flamenco groups...
Furthermore, Expo Zaragoza 2008 is producing three big shows based on the exhibition’s basic principles: “Water and sustainable development”. As such, “Iceberg” is a Visual Poetic Symphony, devised by Focus, a company that forms part of the opening ceremony and which, from the second day onwards, will become The Evening Show on the bank of the river Ebro.
Each day, the “The awakening of the serpent” procession, devised by Cirque Du Soleil, will pass through the Expo ground. Finally, there is the third show, “Spring Man”, devised by Pichón Baldinu, creator of the Argentinian group De La Guarda.

Big musical events

Music lovers are also catered for at Expo Zaragoza. As such, the Aragonese city will host numerous concerts; Alanis Morrisette, Santiago Auserón, Quique González, Chambao, Diana Krall and Peret among others. The three big musical events feature Bob Dylan, on 23 June, Enrique Bunbury, on 6 September and Gloria Estefan, on 12 September. 

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