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About the Dolphinarium |
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Dolphinarium is a unique attraction facility, lying amidst a
green landscape in the northern part of the Sea Garden in Varna,
allowing a magnificent view to the sea.
It was opened on 11
August 1984, and since then it has been one of the symbols of Varna and
tourism in Bulgaria. Dolphinarium is a favorite spot in the sightseeing
program of all tourists visiting the Black Sea.
The building
strikes with its futuristic design and face of both aluminum and glass.
It is been designed by a team under the direction of the well-known
architect Simeon Saraliev (1948 - 2008), and was opened for the public
on 19 August 1984. The building itself is designed as a lightweight
three-dimensional structure in the form of a glass cube 30x30 meters and
14 meter height. It has three amphitheatric viewing stands seating 1200
people. Below the visitors hall is located the installation level
housing the proportioning equipment and filtration systems, pumps and
other facilities, as well as the air ventilation unit. An interesting
detail is that the excavation works for the installation level were
performed after the support roof structure had been assembled.
During the last four
years over 1 million euro has been invested in the Dolphinarium for new
and modern systems for keeping the optimum life regimen, and for the
entire air conditioning of the hall.
Another original facility
is the café occupying the eastern part of the Dolphinarium. In its
closed hall there are 70 seats, with special windows overlooking the
pool, which allow underwater viewing of the dolphins. The café also have
a summer terrace allowing a panoramic view of the entire Varna gulf.
The pool is just
like the so called “American standard” for keeping marine mammals. As
the first Dolphinarims were built in the USA, this has turned into a
standard for the whole world. The pool is 15 x 12 meters, and 6 meters
deep. Another smaller pool of 3 meters depth is connected thereto. The
water is drawn at 180-200 meters far out to the sea, and reaches the
Dolphinarium through its own pipeline and pump station. The water
circulates continuously in a closed circle through a system of filters
and proportioners, whereat the disinfection, filtration and maintenance
of the other characteristics are automatically controlled. The water
mass capacity is 1200 cubic meters.
Dolphins - The
first dolphins arrived in Varna in 1984 from a Cuban Dolphinarium. They
are of the genus Tursiops truncatus (bottlenose dolphins), coming from
the Guatemala waters. The first trainer of the dolphins in Varna was
Peter Bozeneker. It has been always considered that births of dolphins
in an artificial environment are rare. Due to the excellent conditions
and professional cares the Festa Dolphinarium team renders, births here
are normal.
At present there are 5
dolphins - 2 male and 3 female - Kimbo, Doli, Popi, Yoana and Bimbo; 2
of them were born in Festa Dolphinarium. Source: official site
of
Dolphinarium Festa (2013)
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