Recreation in Moscow

About 30 percent of Moscow’s territory is occupied by parks and public gardens, which were important elements of Soviet city planning.

Gorky Park, which provides activities such as amusement rides and boating, sits on the right bank of the Moscow River; the park’s display of a retired Soviet space shuttle dominates the riverside.

The Moscow Zoo is located just west of the city center.

The Botanical Gardens, administered by the Russian Academy of Sciences, offers a diverse display of plant life.

In 1980 Moscow hosted the XXII Summer Olympics, held in part at the city’s Luzhniki Park sports complex.