BUDAPEST, June 30 (Xinhua) -- The Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden on Tuesday inaugurated its long-awaited Biodome, an indoor tropical exhibition dubbed the "Urban Oasis."
The launch marks a milestone as the zoo, one of the world's oldest, celebrates its 160th anniversary this year, and the Biodome houses some 13,000 tropical plants spanning nearly 3,000 square meters.
"In the Biodome, the light, the air, the plants, the humidity, and the people together create its unique microclimate," zoo director Endre Sos said at the inauguration ceremony.
"Zoos play an important educational role," said Laszlo Gajdos, minister for the living environment, underscoring the importance of environmental protection and the facility's conservation mission.
