Istanbul ranks at the top among 27 European cities, according to the PricewaterhouseCoopers survey. Dublin and Athens rank lowest, reflecting concerns about high budget deficits in Ireland and Greece.

Istanbul is the best place in Europe to buy or develop property, as Turkey’s economic growth contrasts with declines across much of the region, a survey of 600 real estate professionals by PricewaterhouseCoopers has shown.

Turkey’s largest city was first among 27 European cities in terms of where respondents are likely to make purchases, the survey, released Thursday, showed. It was fifth last year. Istanbul was also first for the best development prospects and second after Munich for returns from existing properties.

The Turkish economy grew at an annual rate of 5.5 percent in the third quarter of last year as record-low interest rates boosted consumer spending and investment. The buoyant economy offers prospects of rising rents and property values, contrasting with a sluggish outlook for Europe’s economies as governments slash spending to reduce debt.

Istanbul “is one of the few markets where investors remain confident in the city rather than in their own ability to buck the general trend through superior real estate investment skills,” PwC said.

Difficulties in obtaining loans to refinance debt or fund new projects continue to hurt the property industry across Europe and investment is going to the highest-quality buildings in cities where tenant demand will lift rents, according to the report by the London-based arm of PwC, the world’s largest accounting firm.

Turkey won the most awards during the ceremony of the World Travel Awards. The awards are like the Oscars for the travel industry. They are awarded to the best of the best in the tourism industry, since 1993.

Istanbul is the best travel destination for 2010. Then you can travel directly to Lisbon, because that city was crowned Europe’s Leading City Break Destination 2010.

This year’s World Travel Awards Europe Ceremony was held in Antalya, Turkey on Friday 1st October.

Turkish Airlines picked up the award for “Europe’s Leading Airline Business Class” following 12 months in which it posted record profits, grew market share and continued its global expansion.

And there was even more good news for Turkey, which also walked away with “Europe’s Leading Meetings & Conference Hotel” for Rixos Sungate, “Europe’s Leading Tourist Board” for the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office.

The biggest applause of the night was saved for the Special Achievement Award, which this year was presented to Talha Görgülü for his outstanding achievement within the Turkish travel industry. His “A Group” Travel Agency, Kayıtur, brings millions of tourists to Turkey while his charter operation SKY Airlines now flies to 50 destinations with a fleet of 17 state-of-the-art aircraft. In 2006, he set a new benchmark for style, not just in Turkey but worldwide, by opening the Adam & Eve hotel in Antalya.

The world-famous Fire of Anatolia dance act provided the entertainment for the evening as the stunning cast of 45 dancers stepped, stomped and swirled to traditional folk music from the Black Sea to the Balkans.

Turkey’s first Turkuazoo giant aquarium in Istanbul will be operational in 2009 and is located in the new Forum Istanbul in Bayrampasa. Forum Istanbul will be one of Europe’s largest shopping centers and the first shopping center in the world with a mega aquarium. Turkuazoo offers family fun for those wishing to spend time in the underwater world, promising an unforgettable experience.

Turkuazoo is a Turkish subsidiary of Global Aquariums BV. The next generation aquarium in Istanbul, Turkey, is designed specifically to appeal to its Turkish audience and will entertain visitors with its rainforest, flooded forest, and tropical seas zones, a predator tank and jellyfish discovery area. The exciting 90m long Marinescape SeaTube, one of the world’s longest underwater tunnels, will offer visitors a panoramic view of marine life.

The concept of the site plan design of 17 million Euro aquarium project has been considered as “fish skeleton”. The total project will be 55,000 m2 big, With an impressive 7,000 m3 total tank capacity, making it the largest aquarium in Europe.

The large aquarium will house 25,000 sea creatures. Visitors will be able to view the aquarium’s residents by the end of September. Among them will be the 2.5-metre-long tiger sharks, as well as smaller members of the sea predator family. Braver visitors who would like to see the sea creatures not just from the other side of the glass but from up close will be able to dive and swim with them.

The water in the aquarium will come from the Sea of Marmara, the inland sea that connects the Black and the Aegean Seas. The aquarium’s first residents will start being brought to Istanbul by trucks and airplanes in the next few weeks.

Turkuazoo is located 5 km away from Ataturk International Airport, near the motorway and railway transportation systems in Florya, which is at the southwest coast of Istanbul where 11 million people live in. Besides, IDO sea busses have been considered for visitors, who want to reach aquarium by seaway.

Now you can see how it feels like to be at the bottom of the ocean, Turkuazoo Istanbul.

For more information visit www.turkuazoo.com

These are just a few of the most largest aquariums in the world where you can easily break into the mesmerizing secrets of the underwater world.

World’s Largest Aquarium – Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, a wonderful home for more than 100,000 animals of 500 different species (notable specimens: whale sharks, beluga whales, manta ray) and with a capacity of 8.1 million US gallons (31,000 m³) of marine fresh water.

World’s Second Largest Aquarium – Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, part of the Ocean Expo Commemorative National Government Park located in Motobu, Okinawa, Japan; capacity: 7,500-cubic meters (1,981,290 gallons) of water; one of the few places where visitors can see a great variety of sea creatures including sharks and manta rays. Imagine the aquarium from the video below which was shot at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan Kuroshio Sea – 2nd largest aquarium tank in the world.

The second largest aquarium in Europe, Oceanarium in Lisbon, Portugal .
The Lisbon Oceanarium has a large collection of marine species — birds, mammals, fish, cnidaria and other marine organisms. With an impressive 1,000 m2 and 5,000 m3 tank with four massive 49 m2 acrylic windows on its sides.

The Aquarium of Genoa in Italy is the third largest in Europe. With an area of 10,000m2 area, 70 water tanks offering a spectacular structure and an emotional trip across the immensity of the oceans. Built for Expo 92, the Aquarium of Genoa is an educational, scientific and cultural centre. Its mission is to educate and raise public awareness as regards conservation, management and responsible use of aquatic environments.

The Turkuazoo giant aquarium is a great addition to Istanbul and a definite must for aquarium enthusiasts.