A huge new theme park is set to open in this Turkish capital, Ankara, in March, covering an area of 1.4m sq m (15.1m sq ft).

Called Ankapark, the attraction will have 130,000sq m (1.4m sq ft) of indoor space for rides and attractions, meaning it will open during winter months as well as during the peak summer period.

Another weatherproofing feature at the park will be heated tents, where rides can continue to operate regardless of the weather conditions – inside the tents, the average temperature will be 23 degrees Celsius.

Ankapark will offer visitors 28 big rides and 180 mid-sized rides among its total number 2,117. 90 per cent of the rides in the park have been bought from European firms.

The park has been built by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality and three Turkish firms, alongside one Chinese company, have the operating rights for 29 years. Germany-based audit firm TÜV is conducting testing at the park.

It is hoped the park will be beneficial for tourism in the Ankara metropolitan region when it opens in March and the park has a focus on bringing in international visitors, as well as domestic.

"We are trying to improve tourism activity in Ankara. Our Chinese partners will bring nearly 500,000 Chinese tourists," said Ankapark Enterprises general director Cem Uzan.

"Our aim is to bring Russian and Middle Eastern ones. If more tourists come here in this context, Ankara will have a proper income, developing its touristic structure. Thus, we will establish another income source for Ankara."