The centrepiece of the 34,000m2 or five-hectare park will be a large Biodome building, covering 1.7 hectares under one roof.

The Biodome will be a technological achievement presenting life in the Pannonian Basin several million years ago, Budapest mayor István Tarlós told reporters.

It will host 1,400 trees and a small herd of elephants on the site formerly occupied by the amusement park.

Director Miklós Persányi pointed out that the zoo, opened in 1866, was last expanded in 1909-12.

Source: Hungary Around the Clock

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MTI photo: Kovács Attila