1.

France

It shouldn’t surprise you that the effortlessly gorgeous, charming, and the only thing cooler than
being cool – France – tops the list for the most visited country in the world. While Paris has a
lot to offer travellers (and should certainly be visited at least once in your life), there’s so much
to see beyond the capital.

Topography - The topography, or physical lay of the land, of Paris, the capital of France, is relatively
flat but contains a number of hills. Montmartre: 130 m (425 ft) above sea level (ASL). It was leveled in
the 18th century.

Religion - Roman Catholic

The 2007 CIA World Factbook lists the religion of France as: Roman Catholic 83–88%,
Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%–10%, unaffiliated 4%. In 2002 the CIA World Factbook
stated that 88–92% of the French population was Catholic.

Climate - The climate of France is generally cold in winter and mild in summer, but mild winters and
hot summers are usual along the Mediterranean sea (French riviera) and in the South West of France.
Along the Rhône Valley a occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind blows known as the
mistral.

Culture - Historically, French culture was influenced by Celtic and Gallo-Roman cultures as well as the
Franks, a Germanic tribe. France was initially defined as the western area of Germany known as
Rhineland but it later came to refer to a territory that was known as Gaul during the Iron Age and
Roman era.

Economic Factor - France boasts many economic factors that draw foreign investors to its
property market. It is important to have an understanding of what these factors are when
considering the investment potential of your chosen French property.

Capital Growth

Property in France is known as a stable investment both for capital appreciation of between 5 and
10% and high rental yields of around 7 to 10%. Meanwhile some mini hotspots such as prime
areas on the Cote d’Azur even saw growth of as high as 22% in 2005.

As a general rule, buyers look to investment property in France as a solid and stable source of
reliable income to them for the medium to long term.

Leaseback Schemes.

Under this Government scheme, purchasers buy freehold property and then lease it to a holiday
company for a typical period of nine years. In return they get guaranteed rental income at
average yields of 3 to 6% (some schemes guarantee yields of 5.5%). Although owners pay
maintenance charges and management fees amounting to some 15% of rental income, they are
fully refunded their VAT of 19.6%. In addition owners can use their properties for periods of
between 2 and 8 weeks per year at reduced rates.

High Rental Demand

Due to France’s popularity as the World’s most popular tourist destination, there is always high
demand for accommodation in tourist resort areas. The French, like many other continentals, do
not have the British preoccupation with owning property and the vast majority rent their homes
for average fixed terms of three years, allowing investors ample buy-to-let opportunities.

Low Property Prices

Property prices are still lower than in many European locations, making property investment in
France still a very attractive option. In the remoter areas of the country, you may still find a
renovation project for under GBP 30,000 while a typical two bedroom off-plan property in
Provence could set you back around GBP 80,000.

Capital Gains Tax

If your property was your principal residence, you will be exempt from capital gains tax.
However if the property is not your principal residence, tax will be levied at 16%, unless you
have owned it for more than 15 years.

Excellent Infrastructure

France is a modern country and is well served by a top class transportation. As a result it is easily
accessed from the UK and mainland Europe via excellent air, rail and road links that give it the
ease of access that all modern tourist destinations need.

Mortgages

Easy access to mortgage lending facilities both in the UK and in France are an added economic
factor that makes investment in French property so easy. Foreigners are able to obtain up to
100% finance for their purchase and interest rates can be fixed or fluctuating, while current rates
are a competitive 4%.

Double Tax Treaty

The double tax treaty that exists between the UK and France ensures you do not pay tax twice.

Education - French secondary education is divided into two schools: the collège for the first four
years directly following primary school; the lycée for the next three years.
2. United States of America

Surprise Surprise… of course the USA nearly tops the list! The USA has so much to offer and
with very different experiences in each state, the opportunities are endless. Need help knowing
where to start? Here’s a guide to help you decide where to go road tripping in the USA!

Topography – Although the northern New England coast is rocky, along the rest of the eastern
seaboard the Atlantic Coastal Plain rises gradually from the shoreline. Narrow in the north, the
plain widens to about 320 km (200 mi) in the south and in Georgia merges with the Gulf Coastal
Plain that borders the Gulf of Mexico and extends through Mexico as far as the Yucatán. West of
the Atlantic Coastal Plain is the Piedmont Plateau, bounded by the Appalachian Mountains. The
Appalachians, which extend from southwest Maine into central Alabama—with special names in
some areas—are old mountains, largely eroded away, with rounded contours and forested, as a
rule, to the top. Few of their summits rise much above 1,100 m (3,500 ft), although the highest,
Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina, reaches 2,037 m (6,684 ft).

Between the Appalachians and the Rocky Mountains, more than 1,600 km (1,000 mi) to the
west, lies the vast interior plain of the United States. Running south through the center of this
plain and draining almost two-thirds of the area of the continental United States is the
Mississippi River. Waters starting from the source of the Missouri, the longest of its tributaries,
travel almost 6,450 km (4,000 mi) to the Gulf of Mexico. The eastern reaches of the great
interior plain are bounded on the north by the Great Lakes, which are thought to contain about
half the world's total supply of fresh water. Under US jurisdiction are 57,441 sq km (22,178 sq
mi) of Lake Michigan, 54,696 sq km (21,118 sq mi) of Lake Superior, 23,245 sq km (8,975 sq
mi) of Lake Huron, 12,955 sq km (5,002 sq mi) of Lake Erie, and 7,855 sq km (3,033 sq mi) of
Lake Ontario. The five lakes are now accessible to oceangoing vessels from the Atlantic via the
St. Lawrence Seaway. The basins of the Great Lakes were formed by the glacial ice cap that
moved down over large parts of North America some 25,000 years ago. The glaciers also
determined the direction of flow of the Missouri River and, it is believed, were responsible for
carrying soil from what is now Canada down into the central agricultural basin of the United
States. The great interior plain consists of two major subregions: the fertile Central Plains,
extending from the Appalachian highlands to a line drawn approximately 480 km (300 mi) west
of the Mississippi, broken by the Ozark Plateau; and the more arid Great Plains, extending from
that line to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Although they appear flat, the Great Plains rise
gradually from about 460 m (1,500 ft) to more than 1,500 m (5,000 ft) at their western extremity.

The Continental Divide, the Atlantic-Pacific watershed, runs along the crest of the Rocky
Mountains. The Rockies and the ranges to the west are parts of the great system of young,
rugged mountains, shaped like a gigantic spinal column, that runs along western North, Central,
and South America from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, Chile. In the continental United States, the
series of western ranges, most of them paralleling the Pacific coast, are the Sierra Nevada, the
Coast Ranges, the Cascade Range, and the Tehachapi and San Bernardino mountains. Between
the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada–Cascade mountain barrier to the west lies the Great Basin, a
group of vast arid plateaus containing most of the desert areas of the United States, in the south
eroded by deep canyons. The coastal plains along the Pacific are narrow, and in many places the
mountains plunge directly into the sea. The most extensive lowland near the west coast is the
Great Valley of California, lying between the Sierra Nevada and the Coast Ranges. There are 71
peaks in these western ranges of the continental United States that rise to an altitude of 4,267 m
(14,000 ft) or more, Mt. Whitney in California at 4,418 m (14,494 ft) being the highest. The
greatest rivers of the Far West are the Colorado in the south, flowing into the Gulf of California,
and the Columbia in the northwest, flowing to the Pacific. Each is more than 1,900 km (1,200
mi) long; both have been intensively developed to generate electric power, and both are
important sources of irrigation.

Separated from the continental United States by Canadian territory, the state of Alaska occupies
the extreme northwest portion of the North American continent. A series of precipitous mountain
ranges separates the heavily indented Pacific coast on the south from Alaska's broad central
basin, through which the Yukon River flows from Canada in the east to the Bering Sea in the
west. The central basin is bounded on the north by the Brooks Range, which slopes down
gradually to the Arctic Ocean. The Alaskan Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands, sweeping west
far out to sea, consist of a chain of volcanoes, many still active. The state of Hawaii consists of a
group of Pacific islands formed by volcanoes rising sharply from the ocean floor. The highest of
these volcanoes, Mauna Loa, at 4,168 m (13,675 ft), is located on the largest of the islands,
Hawaii, and is still active.

The lowest point in the United States is Death Valley in California, 86 m (282 ft) below sea
level. At 6,194 m (20,320 ft), Mt. McKinley in Alaska is the highest peak in North America.
These topographic extremes suggest the geological instability of the Pacific Coast region. Major
earthquakes destroyed San Francisco in 1906 and Anchorage, Alaska, in 1964, and the San
Andreas Fault in California still causes frequent earth tremors. Washington State's Mt. St. Helens
erupted in 1980, spewing volcanic ash over much of the Northwest.
Religion

TABLE OF RELIGION IN THE U.S (1962-2012)[104]

OTHERS NON- NON-
DAT CHRISTIAN PROTESTANT CATHOLICI CHRISTIA CHRISTI RELIGIOUS/N
E ITY ISM SM NS AN ON-
GROUPS GROUPS RESPONSE
1962 93.0% 70.0% 23.0% 0.0% 5.0% 2.0%
1970 91.0% 65.0% 26.0% 0.0% 4.0% 7.0%
1980 89.3% 61.0% 28.0% 0.3% 2.0% 3.0%
1990 86.2% 59.4% 26.5% 0.3% 3.2% 7.5%
1995 85.0% 56.0% 27.0% 1.0% 7.0% 8.0%
2000 76.5% 53.9% 21.4% 1.2% 2.6% 13.2%
2001 78.7% 52.2% 24.5% 2.9% 3.7% 14.2%
2007 78.5% 51.3% 23.9% 3.3% 5.4% 16.1%
2008 76.0% 50.9% 25.1% 3.1% 3.9% 19.2%
2010 76.5% 50.7% 23.2% 2.6% 2.2% 19.4%
2011 75.6% 48.3% 25.2% 2.8% 4.4% 21.0%
2012 77.3% 51.9% 23.3% 2.1% 4.9% 18.2%

Climate – Weather varies widely across the continental USA, as well as in Alaska and Hawaii.
In general terms, summers are hot and humid in the plains and southern states, while the
southwest is very hot and quite dry.

Culture – U.S. culture has also been shaped by the cultures of Native Americans, Latin
Americans, Africans and Asians. The United States is sometimes described as a "melting pot" in
which different cultures have contributed their own distinct "flavors" to American culture.

Economic Factors – The USA offers a number of economic reasons behind the success of its
property markets. Below we outline some major factors to bear in mind when considering an
investment in the USA.

The USA property market is vast and has many options to suit all needs and budgets, from stand-
alone homes to units in condo-hotels.

The current economic crisis has created an ideal opportunity to buy property at low prices. This
is especially true in the property hotspots of Florida and Las Vegas, where, owing to climate and
excellent leisure activities, the market is likely to remain more buoyant than in the rest of the
country.
Low Cost of Living

Predictions for property investment in the USA indicate that the strong Sterling and Euro against
the Dollar make for a beneficial property investment choice. The cost of living in the USA is still
generally lower than in many European countries and the extensive availability of a wide range
of consumer goods makes the USA a retail paradise.

Sound Economy

The USA boasts the largest economy in the world and has long been a stable economic
environment in which to invest. Despite a rise in interest rates and the subprime lending crisis
having put the brakes on the property market in recent years, the USA still represents a strong
market into which foreigners continue to make wise investments, particularly in buy-to-let
options, in key locations.

Tourist Industry

There are many areas of the USA that offer excellent tourist facilities, collectively attracting the
USA’s annual tourist figures of some 40 million visitors per year. Investors who purchase wisely
in tourist destinations rely on a healthy resale market with strong capital growth to fuel their
investments.

Rental Market

Spurred on by a strong tourist market, the buy-to-let investment in holiday areas offer strong
potential to the rental investor. These areas include coastal regions of the east and west, ski
resorts of California or year-round Las Vegas and Florida where investors benefit from the
absence of any off-peak seasons. Rental yields in key locations such as Orlando reach 12% per
annum, to which investors can add eventual annual capital appreciation upon resale. In addition,
internal migration from the north to the south also stimulates the need for long-term rental homes
in certain regions such as Florida and Las Vegas.

Capital Growth

Investors are facing the realities of dropping property prices (average 25% p.a.). They are happy
to buy extremely low and ride the economic storm, in anticipation of a revival in the market, a
situation which, according to many analysts, will inevitably start to take effect around late 2010.
Wisely chosen off-plan options give opportunity to obtain maximum capital growth in the long
term, boosted by high rental yields over the investment period.

Buying Process

The legal and buying process is highly developed in the USA. The system is easy to understand
and transparent, while many of the taxes and specific requirements will vary from State to State.
Cheap transatlantic flights
The wide availability of direct budget flights to the USA from Europe makes property purchase
all the more attractive to foreigners. Meanwhile an “Open Skies” agreement is currently being
considered to abolish the exclusivity that British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have enjoyed as
carriers over the years. This will undoubtedly bring great benefits to consumers and encourage
far more competitive pricing.

Education – The United States spends more per student on education than any other country.
American students rank 14th worldwide in cognitive skills, just behind Russia. On the other
hand, of the top ten colleges and universities in the world, eight are American.

Secondary: 26.1 million (2006–2007)

Secondary diploma: 85%
Post secondary: 20.5 million 2
Post-secondary diploma: 30%

3. Spain

Spain is another country that you could travel throughout far and wide, and still never feel as if
you have seen it all. Barcelona is a traveller’s favourite, but there are many lesser known towns,
villages and small cities flying under the radar… so its’ little wonder Spain takes #3 on the list.

Topography – Continental Spain is divided into five general topographic regions: (1) The
northern coastal belt is a mountainous region with fertile valleys and large areas under pasture
and covered with forests. (2) The central plateau, or Meseta, with an average altitude of about
670 m (2,200 ft), comprises most of Castilla y León, Castilla–La Mancha, and the city of
Madrid. (3) Andalucía, with Sevilla its largest city, covers the whole of southern and
southwestern Spain and, except for the flat fertile plain of the Guadalquivir River, is a
mountainous region with deep fertile valleys. (4) The Levante is on the Mediterranean coastal
belt, with Valencia its chief city. (5) Catalonia (Cataluña) and the Ebro Valley comprise the
northeastern region.

Spain has six principal mountain ranges—the Pyrenees, the Cordillera Cantábrica, the Montes de
Toledo, the Sierra Morena, the Serranías Penibéticas, and the Sistema Ibérico. The principal
peaks are Pico de Aneto (3,404 m/11,168 ft) in the Pyrenees and Mulhacén (3,478 m/11,411 ft)
in the Penibéticas. The main rivers are the Tagus (Tajo), Duero, Guadiana, and Guadalquivir,
which flow to the Atlantic, and the Ebro, which flows to the Mediterranean. The Duero and the
Guadalquivir form broad valleys and alluvial plains and at their mouths deposit saline soils,
creating deltas and salt marshes. The coastline has few natural harbors except the estuaries (rías)
in the northwest, formed by glaciers, and those in the Levante and the south, created by sandbars
during the Quaternary period.

The Canary Islands are a group of 13 volcanic islands, of which 6 are barren. They have a
ruggedly mountainous terrain interspersed with some fertile valleys. Spain's highest mountain,
Pico de Teide (3,718 m/12,198 ft), is on Tenerife. The Balearic Islands are a picturesque group
with sharply indented coastlines; they combine steep mountains with rolling, fertile ranges.

Religion – Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Spanish Constitution, although the majority
of the population is Catholic. Other religions also practised in Spain include Islam, Judaism,
Protestantism, and Hinduism, all of which have places where to conduct their rituals. Up.

Climate – The Country of Spain experiences three climatic types that are continental, maritime,
and Mediterranean.
The locally generated continental climate covers the majority of peninsular Spain, influencing
the Meseta Central, the adjoining mountains to the east and the south, and the Ebro Basin.
Continental climate is characterized by wide diurnal and seasonal variations in temperature and
by low, irregular rainfall with high rates of evaporation that leave the land arid.
Annual rainfall generally is thirty to sixty-four centimeters; most of the Meseta region receives
about fifty centimeters.
The northern Meseta, the Sistema Central, and the Ebro Basin have two rainy seasons, one in
spring (April-June) and the other in autumn (October to November ), with late spring being the
wettest time of the year.
In the southern Meseta, the wet seasons are spring and autumn, but the spring one is earlier in
(March), and autumn is the wetter season of the year. Even during the wet seasons, rain is
irregular and unreliable.
Continental winters are cold, with strong winds and high humidity, despite the low precipitation.
Except for mountain areas, the northern foothills of the Sistema Iberico are the coldest areas, and
frost is common.
Summers are warm and cloudless, producing an average daytime temperatures that reaches 21�
C in the northern Meseta and 24 to 27� C in the southern Meseta; nighttime temperatures range
from 7 to 10 C.
The Ebro Basin, at a lower altitude, is extremely hot during the summer, and temperatures can
exceed 43 C. Summer humidities are low in the Meseta Central and in the Ebro Basin, except
right along the shores of in the Rio Ebro where humidity is high.

Culture – The cultures of Spain are European cultures based on a variety of historical
influences, primarily that of Ancient Rome, but also the pre-Roman Celtic and Iberian culture,
and that of the Phoenicians and the Moors.
Economic Factors – Spain boasts a very stable economic climate, making property investment
an excellent option for those seeking a reliable return on investment in a location not too far from
home.

Education – After primary school in Spain students must continue on to Compulsory Secondary
Education (ESO) which generally lasts from age 12-16. Spanish secondary education is
divided into two cycles lasting two years each.

4. China

The East has really opened its’ doors to tourism in recent years – though it still isn’t the easiest
of entry procedures. If you have the patience to obtain a visa and the many other ways patience is
required when visiting China, then you’re in for a real treat. Hong Kong and Macau also fare
well with international visitors, and are a great little add-on to your Eastern adventure.

Topography – China is a vast country, located in the eastern part of the Asian continent, on the western
Pacific Rim. It is the world's fourth largest country covering an area of 9.6 million square kilometers.
With additional offshore territory, including territorial waters, special economic areas, and the
continental shelf, China's overall territory covers almost 13 million square kilometers.

Religion – The other major religions are Taoism, Confucianism, Islam and Christianity. Being brought
into China 2,000 years ago, it was gradually widely accepted by most Chinese people and developed into
three sections, namely the Han, Tibetan and Southern Buddhism.

Climate – The climate in China varies from region to region since the country is massive! In the
northeast the summers are hot and dry and the winters are freezing cold. The north and central regions
have frequent bouts of rain coupled with hot summers and cold winters.

Culture – Chinese culture (simplified Chinese: 中国文化; traditional Chinese: 中國文化; pinyin:
Zhōngguó wénhuà) is one of the world's oldest cultures.[1][2] The area in which the culture is dominant
covers a large geographical region in eastern Asia with customs and traditions varying greatly between
provinces, cities, and even towns as well. Important components of Chinese culture includes ceramics,
architecture, music, literature, martial arts, cuisine, visual arts, and religion.

Economic Factors – GDP growth, inflation, employment all key factors for China's 2014 economy.
BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhuanet) -- China has set its gross domestic product (GDP) growth target for 2014
at 7.5 percent, the same as for 2013, and will keep consumer inflation at around 3.5 percent, Chinese
Premier Li Keqiang announced.

Education - Education in China is a state-run system of public education run by the Ministry of
Education. All citizens must attend school for at least nine years, known as the nine-year compulsory
education, which the government funds.
5. Italy

You could spend a life time discovering Italy, or perhaps more appropriately EATaly, and still
have a lifetime left to discover. There’s so much history, culture, liveliness, FOOD – oh the food,
coastal scenery, summer beaches… the list is endless. But if you still need convincing, here’s
exactly why you will fall in love with Italy.

Topography – Except for the fertile Po River Valley in the north and the narrow coastal belts
farther south, Italy's mainland is generally mountainous, with considerable seismic activity.
During Roman times, the city of Pompeii, near present-day Naples (Napoli), was devastated first
by an earthquake in AD 63 and then by the famed eruption of Mt. Vesuvius (1,277 m/4,190 ft) in
AD 79. In the last century, an earthquake in northeastern Italy on 6 May 1976 left more than 900
people dead, and a quake in the south on 23 November 1980 (and subsequent aftershocks)
claimed at least 4,500 lives.

The Alpine mountain area in the north along the French and Swiss borders includes three famous
lakes—Como, Maggiore, and Garda—and gives rise to six small rivers that flow southward into
the Po. Italy's highest peaks are found in the northwest in the Savoy Alps, the Pennines, and the
Graian chain. They include Mont Blanc (4,807 m/15,771 ft), on the French border; Monte Rosa
(Dufourspitze, 4,634 m/15,203 ft) and the Matterhorn (Monte Cervino, 4,478 m/14,692 ft), on
the Swiss border; and Gran Paradiso (4,061 m/13,323 ft). Marmolada (3,342 m/10,965 ft), in
northeast Italy, is the highest peak in the Dolomites.

At the foot of the Alps, the Po River, the only large river in Italy, flows from west to east,
draining plains covering about 17% of Italy's total area and forming the agricultural and
industrial heartland. The Apennines, the rugged backbone of peninsular Italy, rise to form the
southern border of the Po Plain. Numerous streams and a few small rivers, including the Arno
and the Tiber (Tevere), flow from the Apennines to the west coast. The highest peak on the
peninsula is Corvo Grande (2,912 m/9,554 ft). Vesuvius is the only active volcano on the
European mainland.

While altitudes are lower in southern Italy, the Calabrian coast is still rugged. Among the
narrow, fertile coastal plains, the Plain of Foggia in northern Apulia, which starts along the
Adriatic, and the more extensive lowland areas near Naples, Rome, and Livorno (Leghorn) are
the most important. The mountainous western coastline forms natural harbors at Naples,
Livorno, La Spezia, Genoa (Genova), and Savona, and the low Adriatic coast permits natural
ports at Venice (Venezia), Bari, Brindisi, and Taranto.

Sicily, separated from the mainland by the narrow Strait of Messina, has the Madonie
Mountains, a continuation of the Apennines, and the Plain of Catania, the largest plain on the
island. Mount Etna (3,369 m/11,053 ft) is an isolated and active volcano in the northeast.
Sardinia, in the Tyrrhenian Sea, is generally mountainous and culminates in the peak of
Gennargentu (1,834 m/6,017 ft). The largest and most fertile plains are the Campidano in the
south and the Ozieri in the north. The principal bay is Porto Torres in the Gulf of Asinara.

Religion – Italy is a Christian country, some 88 per cent of the population belonging to the
Roman Catholic church, although only around a third of these regard themselves as 'active' in
religious terms.

Climate – Most of Italy has a Mediterranean type of climate, which has cool, rainy winters and
hot, dry summers. Winter temperatures along and near the coasts of southern Italy seldom drop
to freezing in winter, and summer temperatures often reach 90° F (32° C) or higher.

Culture – Italian culture is steeped in the arts, family, architecture, music and food. Home of the
Roman Empire and a major center of the Renaissance, culture on the Italian peninsula has
flourished for centuries. Here is a brief overview of Italian customs and traditions.

Economic Factors – Property in Italy has never been so popular amongst investors. Find out
below some of the many economic reasons that make Italy a prudent investment today.

Education - Education in Italy is compulsory from 6 to 16 years of age, and is divided into five
stages: kindergarten (scuola dell'infanzia), primary school (scuola primaria or scuola
elementare), lower secondary school (scuola secondaria di primo grado or scuola media), upper
secondary school (scuola secondaria di secondo grado.

6. Turkey

Topography - Other than the low, rolling hills of Turkish Thrace, the fertile river valleys that
open to the Aegean Sea, the warm plains of Antalya and Adana on the Mediterranean, and the
narrow littoral along the Black Sea, the country is wrinkled by rugged mountain ranges that
surround and intersect the high, semiarid Anatolian plateau. Average elevations range from 600
m (2,000 ft) above sea level in the west to over 1,800 m (6,000 ft) amid the wild eastern
highlands. The highest point is Mount Ararat (Büyük Agri Dagi, 5,166 m/16,949 ft), which rises
just within Turkey at the intersection of the Turkish, Armenian, and Iranian frontiers. There are
over 100 peaks with elevations of 3,000 m (10,000 ft) or more. Other than the Tigris and
Euphrates, which have their sources in eastern Anatolia, rivers are relatively small. Because the
watersheds of these streams are semibarren slopes, the seasonal variations in flow are very great.
The largest lake is Lake Van (3,675 sq km/1,419 sq mi); the other major lake is Lake Tuz, whose
water has a salinity level so high that it serves as a commercial source of salt. Turkey's 7,200 km
(5,474 mi) of coastline provide few good natural harbors.

Most of Turkey lies within an earthquake zone, and recurrent tremors are recorded. On 29–30
March 1970, more than 1,000 earthquakes were felt in the Gediz region of western Turkey,
killing 1,086 persons. The record destructive earthquake, however, was that of 29 December
1939—near Erzincan—which killed 30,000 persons.
It might surprise you that Turkey has beat quite a few other countries to take the position of #6
on the list, but for Europeans, it probably doesn’t come as a surprise. Turkey has so much to
offer visitors – especially if you make it out of tourist-heavy Istanbul (though you can’t miss it –
absolutely do not miss Istanbul – here’s why).

Religion – Christianity in Turkey. Since up to 98 percent of the population are Muslims,

Christians are obviously a minority religion in Turkey. Because it is a secular country, the only
Muslim country in the world that has no state religion, the Constitution guarantees religious
freedom, and tolerance is the rule.

Climate – The coastal areas of Turkey bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea
have a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild to cool, wet winters.
The coastal areas of Turkey bordering the Black Sea have a temperate Oceanic climate with
warm, wet summers and cool to cold, wet winters.

Culture – The culture of Turkey combines a heavily diverse and heterogeneous set of elements
that have been derived from the various cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean (West Asian)
region and to a lesser degree, Southeastern European, Caucasian, and Central Asian traditions.

Economic Factors – Turkey has many market drivers that make it an ideal location currently for
property investment. Here we look at some of the reasons why Turkey is one of the world’s
hottest investment property locations.

Education – Education in Turkey is governed by a national system which was established in

accordance with the Atatürk Reforms after the Turkish War of Independence. It is a state-
supervised system designed to produce a skillful professional class for the social and economic
institutes of the nation.

7. Germany

Deutschland! Truly in every sense of the phrase, Germany has a lot to offer visitors. From the
cosmopolitan and quirky capital of Berlin, through to the more refined and sophisticated Munich
and surrounds in the South.

8. United Kingdom

Well it comes as no surprise to see the United Kingdom in the top 10, especially given London is
the world’s most visited city. Should you be starting an English adventure here or just passing
through the iconic city, here are some tips to help you get a grip on London before you go.

9. Russia
Head to the East of Europe and you won’t regret it. While the West of Europe if your more
typical European getaway, the East has plenty to offer tourists by way of history, culture, and
phenomenal architecture. If you’re off to Russia for your first time, be sure to visit both the
capital, Moscow and the former capital, St Petersburg, as both have much to offer visitors. If
you’re visiting for the first time, be sure to check out this quick guide for first timers.

10. Thailand

What has Thailand got to offer visitors? Only the most delightfully happy natives you’ll find
around the world, fantastic Thai food, cheap accommodation, food, shopping, everything! Oh
and then there’s that small fact that it is home to some of the most gorgeous beaches, islands, and
some fantastic world-class resorts.