Spanish Operator Parques Reunidos has launched its latest new attraction – an aquarium in Madrid.

Located at the Xanadu Madrid shopping centre, the Atlantis Aquarium covers 6,000sq m (64,583sq ft) and has the capacity for 2.3 million litres of water.

The aquarium offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about marine biodiversity through guided visits for schoolchildren and families, games and challenges.

Acting as a journey from start to end, the aquarium starts with a fictional meteorite that hits Madrid and a message of the future of a submerged civilisation, warning visitors of the potential consequences of climate change.

This immersive trip then takes visitors through the aquarium, where they can see more than 150 different species in their natural ecosystems – from mangroves to coral reefs, through to the abyssal funds and Antarctica.

A stand-out feature at the aquarium is a virtual reality ‘dive’, where visitors will feel as if they are a few centimetres away from a number of sea creatures, including sharks, usually found in the South Pole.

The aquarium is Parques Reunidos’ first to be based in an indoor complex. The operator said in a statement that it is committed to "pioneering the application of the Community Directive of single-use plastics in Spain", meaning that Atlantis Aquarium will eliminate the 10 single-use plastic products that are most often found in the sea.

Parques Reunidos’ portfolio comprises more than 60 assets (amusement parks, animal parks, aquatic parks, family entertainment centres and other attractions) worldwide. The company is currently operational in 14 countries, receiving approximately 20 million visitors per year.