Introduction

Istanbul Aquarium (Istanbul Akvaryumu), opened its doors in April 2011, is the biggest thematic aquarium of the world and is an official member of World Association of Zoos and Aquariums

World Association of Zoos and Aquariums

The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums is the "umbrella" organisation for the world zoo and aquarium community. Its mission is to provide leadership and support for zoos, aquariums, and partner organizations of the world in animal care and welfare, conservation of biodiversity, environmental...

 (WAZA). The site is 5 km away from Atatürk International Airport

Atatürk International Airport

Atatürk International Airport is the major international airport in Istanbul, Turkey. Opened in 1924 and located in Yeşilköy, on the European side of the city, it is west of the city centre. In 1980, the airport was renamed to Atatürk International Airport in honor of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the...

, near the motorway and railway transportation systems in Florya

Florya

Florya is a neighborhood belonging to the Bakırköy district of the greater Istanbul, Turkey. It is located along Marmara Sea, and borders to the northeast the neighborhood of Yeşilköy, to the northwest that of Küçükçekmece. It is one of the high class and rich areas of Istanbul...

, which is at the southwest coast of Istanbul

Istanbul

Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...

. Besides, İDO

Ido

Ido is a constructed language created with the goal of becoming a universal second language for speakers of different linguistic backgrounds as a language easier to learn than ethnic languages...

 sea busses can be considered by visitors, who want to reach to Istanbul Aquarium by seaway.

In comparison to other aquariums of its class containing fish species living in the world’s seas, it is the newest with its travel route, thematization, interactivity, rainforest and cutting-edge technology. Istanbul Aquarium holds a leading position among worldwide aquariums thanks to its volume, variety of fish species, and the activities on travel routes. It is a project which makes “firsts” and “mosts” in its field. The visitors, by following a geographical route, travel on a route that hosts 16 themes and 1 rainforest going from the Black Sea

Black Sea

The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...

 towards the Pacific.

In thematization of the spaces, there appear cultural, geographical, historical and architectural properties of each space with suitable decorative elements, interactive games, movies, and visual graphics by which details about the region are provided. Sound and lighting systems of each space have been arranged in conformity with this thematization.

Istanbul Aquarium is managed by specialists in their field and in compliance with international standards in every sense.

All living creatures in Istanbul Aquarium continue to live in the conditions as nearest as possible to those of their habitat.

Istanbul Aquarium In Figures

• Water volume: 6.800 cubic meters; 64 tanks in total,
• A two-storey giant project with total area of 22.000 square meters on 100-decare land,
• Parking lot area of 32.000 square meters/1.200 vehicles belonging to Istanbul Aquarium,
• Visitor area of 6.000 square meters,A special-themed,
• 1,2 km long travel route originating in the Black Sea
  Black Sea
  The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
  
   towards the Pacific,
• Approximately 1.500 species, 15.000 land and sea creatures in total, which are interesting from each other,
• 2, 15-person, 6-axle 5D movie houses, providing the option to watch 7 separate films, an extraordinary system that makes live some effects such as wind, fog and water.
• A gift shop with an area of 470 square meters within Istanbul Aquarium,
• 3 cafeterias on the travel route,
• 1 restaurant having the Panama Canal
  Panama Canal
  The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
  
  view on one side and the sea view on the other.