The use of private capital contributed significantly to the opening of Iran's first-ever aquarium tunnel in the city of Isfahan, which has in turn contributed to Iran's tourism sector, according to architect Hassan Shafee, who created the aquarium project.
In an interview with Sputnik's Persian edition, Hassan Shafee, the architect and creator ofthe aquarium project praised efforts toattract private funds tothe construction ofIran's first-ever aquarium tunnel inIshfahan, the country's third-largest city.
According tohim, private capital injections inthe implementation ofsocial projects inIraq contribute considerably tothe country's tourism sector.
The interview came a few weeks afterthe unveiling ofthe Isfahan aquarium, which is not only the largest aquarium inIran butalso the largest ofits kind in the Middle East.
"Local authorities know full well that Isfahan is one ofthe most attractive tourist destinations inIran, something that prompts them towork hard toimprove conditions fortourists. In the pastfew years, one ofthe most important steps inthis direction has been private capital investments inthe implementation ofmajor social projects," he said.
"Our special pride is the recreated climatic conditions ofthe Amazon basin, which allows various types offauna tocoexist inthe aquarium. In total, our collection numbers about6,000 fish species; 400 ofthem are onthe Endangered Species List," Shafee said.
During a visit tothe 3,500 square meter aquarium, which contains atleast 1,080 cubic meters ofwater, tourists and Isfahani residents can view the rarest types offish, both fromthe side and frombelow, experiencing the conditions that scuba divers experience 35 meters belowthe surface ofthe ocean, according tothe website Real Iran.
Also ondisplay are the facility's 33 sub-aquariums, which feature various types ofunderwater species, including sponges and starfish brought tothe facility fromfive oceans aroundthe globe.
Nice idea, this aquarium, but why not first make sure there is water running under the bridges of Isfahan in summer? It was suvh s deception to see the dried out river ladt summer.