Saragossa, Spain  - A colourful show Saturday night opened the Expo 2008 world fair in northern Spanish Saragossa.

While large fireworks illuminated the sky, enormous sculptures in the shape of water creatures floated by the Expo area on the banks of the river Ebro, a pageant of the French Compagnie Groupe F and Plasticiens Volants.

King Juan Carlos had said before in his inaugural address, the Expo with the slogan Water and Sustainable Development looks to motivate people to responsible handling of the vital element.

"We not only have to think of the present, but also of future generations and fight against environmental degradation as well as the climate change," Carlos said.

The were about 5,000 guests at the opening ceremony including Queen Sofía, Crown Prince Felipe, Princess Letizia, Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso participated.

For three months 105 countries are presenting in Saragossa innovative technologies and developments centered on water supply. At the first Expo in Europe in eight years more than 200 non- governmental organizations will focus attention on the Earth's ever- scarcer water reserves.

Approximately four million visitors are expected. (dpa)