Turkey’s Tunnel Vision
The world’s first aquarium created inside a road tunnel has opened in Trabzon in northeastern Turkey. It is the most unusual project yet for Polin Aquariums, which specializes in designing and building aquariums.
Visitors will find the Trabzon Akvaryum in a tunnel that connects the Zagnos and Tabakhane valleys in Turkey’s Black Sea region. The facility covers 3,500 square meters and is divided into eight zones. Guests will discover different aquatic environments, from the world’s lakes and rivers to the deepest oceans. The Shark Hall reveals information about shark anatomy, behaviors, and habitats. There’s a reptile exhibit, and a touch-and-discover zone provides encounter experiences for guests. Visitors will also gain insight into the aquarists’ and biologists’ daily routines, and learn about the history behind underwater exploration. The experience culminates in a 21-meter-long transparent tunnel where visitors can view an array of aquatic species from Turkish seas.
polinaquariums.com, trabzonakvaryum.com.tr
Sooty Arrives at Crealy in the U.K.
A beloved bear has a new home. Crealy Theme Park & Resort in Devon, United Kingdom, has unveiled a brand-new area inspired by the British children’s television series, “The Sooty Show.” The little yellow teddy bear Sooty, with his best friends Sweep and Soo, have spellbound children for years with the help of a magic wand and the spell, “Izzy wizzy, let’s get bizzy.” Crealy’s team hopes Sooty Land is equally enchanting.
Guests can expect live daily theater performances of “The Sooty Show” in Sooty’s Big Top Showtime Arena. There are four new rides: “Sooty’s Magic Bus,” “Sweep’s Flying Circus,” “Soo’s Sweet Balloon Ride,” and “Izzy Wizzy Let’s Get Dizzy.” Indoor attractions and a Hall of Fame featuring memorabilia and props from “The Sooty Show” complete the lineup. Guests can also stop by Sooty’s Store and Diner.
“Crealy Theme Park & Resort has long prided itself on being a family attraction that caters for all generations. Sooty, Sweep and Soo have been entertaining children, parents, and grandparents across the country for over 70 years, so we couldn’t be more thrilled to have partnered with the gang on our new Sooty Land,” said Josh Haywood, general manager at Crealy Theme Park & Resort.
In a new episode of “The Sooty Show” to celebrate the launch of Sooty Land, the stars cause chaos at Crealy.
