A rare colony of endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtles nearly fell victim to construction. Fortunately, wild life preservation and ecological awareness prevailed over entrepreneurial greed and thankfully, today you can watch the turtles in Dalyan, Turkey.
Dalyan is located on Turkey’s southwest coast in the province of Mugla and borders the Dalyan Cayi River. The Mediterranean lies downriver to the south and that’s where the loggerhead turtles chose a secluded beach near Iztuzu to lay their eggs and breed. After construction of a planned luxury hotel on that same beach was abandoned, the area has become a wild life sanctuary and it’s a pleasure to go turtle watching. The beach is closed during breeding time, but visitors are allowed to watch the young, once they have hatched, scurry towards the sea and find their natural habitat.
Of course, the turtles have become the trademark of Dalyan and they are pictured everywhere. Make sure, when you visit, to take a stone carved turtle with you as a souvenir or gift for your friends at home.
Inka is German and used to be an international attorney with offices in London and Spain. Retired two years ago because I wanted to be a traveler and writer and now live between Didim/Turkey and Miami with plenty of travel in between. Next destinations: Istanbul, New York and Petra/Jordan.
