June 8 marks World Oceans Day, a global observance aimed at reminding humanity of the urgent need to preserve the marine realm. On the eve of this date, on Saturday June 6, the Primorsky Aquarium hosted a major environmental event with a distinctly imaginative twist.
Participants were invited to see the ocean as outstanding natural and cultural heritage and a source of inspiration. The event kicked off with a theatrical quest through legendary sunken cities drawn from books, video games, and folklore.
Aquarium educators, dressed as inhabitants of these mythical underwater metropolises, used staged backdrops to illustrate the ocean’s narrative and symbolic functions. For example, in a recreation of the utopian city of Rapture from a popular video game series — displayed within the Microworld exhibit — participants encountered the ocean as a space of limitless possibility, free from prior societal constraints.
An equally intriguing stop awaited near the Baikal seal pool, where the legend of the lost city of Kitezh was invoked — a reminder that underwater depths can serve as sanctuaries of refuge.
The quest then led participants into the gloom of Innsmouth, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s tales. In the Octopus House, one could almost imagine Cthulhu himself — the mythical sea god — urging truth-seekers not to forget that the ocean is an entirely alien realm with its own values and logic.
The journey concluded on an optimistic note at the Tropical Rain Forest exhibit, where visitors met the residents of a flooded world — presenting the ocean as a source of hope for new beginnings. According to participant feedback, the immersive performance left a strong impression: the organizers so fully embodied their roles that visitors felt like stepping into living stories.
“It’s wonderful that our Aquarium hosts such engaging and educational events,” said Natalia, mother of nine-year-old Dmitrii. “My soon took part in all the quest challenges, and I once again thoroughly enjoyed seeing underwater creatures in the exhibits.”
After the quest, a lottery draw was held for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Main Building. Ten lucky winners embarked on a journey through a real underwater city — the Aquarium’s life support system. Visitors observed how complex engineering transforms the facility into a reliable home for thousands of marine organisms.
The celebration, attended by about 80 people, concluded with a design competition, the Underwater Builders Tournament. Eight teams presented their artistic projects — hand-drawn and constructed from paper and other materials — depicting underwater cities complete with descriptions of their features. The jury awarded two winning teams, “Seal Pups” and “Bread-and-Catfish,” who were tied in score. Beyond artistic originality, both teams applied a notably scientific — almost engineering — approach: they had considered energy supply, oxygen delivery, and autonomous food production through mariculture.
“We wanted to approach World Oceans Day from an unconventional angle and to create a vivid and original experience that would stimulate the visitors’ curiosity and creativity,” said Kseniia Demidenko, Specialist of the Education Department at the Primorsky Aquarium. “It worked: guests participated actively and showed genuine interest in all the activities. Importantly, we once again directed children’s and adults’ attention to the value of the global ocean and its inhabitants.”
General information:
World Oceans Day, established by the United Nations, is observed annually on June 8. Its goal is to raise awareness of the ocean’s critical importance, promote responsible stewardship of marine resources, and inspire individual and government efforts to conserve oceans for future generations. Environmental actions, lectures, and campaigns are conducted worldwide on this day.
