Mediterranean Beauty: Loggerhead Sea Turtles

Loggerhead turtles only come ashore to lay eggs, and they’re sadly considered an endangered species. Today, their numbers continue to decline due to human development, pollution, and artificial lighting on beaches. As a result, they are now under legal protection in Turkey and many other countries.

Fascinating Facts About Loggerhead Sea Turtles

Scientifically known as Caretta caretta, loggerheads live in the warm waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, but they are seen most often along Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Key nesting sites include Adana’s Yumurtalık district, Belek, Anamur, Köyceğiz, and Dalyan. Belek, in fact, is the second largest nesting site for loggerheads in the entire Mediterranean—after Zakynthos in Greece—and the largest in Turkey.

Loggerhead turtles can grow up to a metre long. In Turkey, adults typically measure around 70–75 cm in length and 50–55 cm in width, weighing between 70 and 140 kilograms. They have reddish-brown shells and pale yellow or white undersides.

Their legs are shaped like fins, with one or two claws at the outer edges—adaptations that help them swim efficiently. Although they breathe air, they’re able to stay underwater for extended periods. These remarkable creatures can live for 100 to 120 years.

Loggerheads are carnivores, feeding on fish, shellfish, jellyfish, sponges, molluscs, and oysters. Their powerful jaws are strong enough to crack open the hard shells of their prey, a feature honed over millions of years in the oceans.

The Nesting Process

Loggerheads come ashore only to nest. At night, during high tide, they dig holes in soft sand and lay up to 100 eggs at a time—though up to 162 eggs have been recorded in a single nesting. Over their approximately 40 years of fertility, a female may lay around 3,200 eggs in total. However, only about three out of every thousand hatchlings survive to adulthood.

After laying her eggs, the mother turtle covers the nest with sand using her back flippers and claws. The eggs incubate for about two months before the hatchlings emerge and make their way to the sea.

Interestingly, the temperature of the sand during incubation determines the sex of the hatchlings. Temperatures below 29°C tend to produce males, while higher temperatures result in females. This delicate balance is threatened by global warming, which could skew the gender ratio significantly. Still, having survived the Ice Age, loggerheads are believed to be resilient enough to face such challenges.

Newly hatched turtles use the moonlight reflecting on the sea to guide them to the water. They remain bonded to the beach where they were born and, decades later, return to that very spot to lay their own eggs. Using the Earth’s magnetic field for navigation, loggerheads can migrate thousands of kilometres between feeding and nesting grounds.

A Living Link to the Ancient Past

Sea turtles have been on Earth for over 100 million years, predating even the dinosaurs. Early ancestors of the loggerhead looked quite different, evolving flipper-like limbs and flatter bodies as they transitioned from land to sea. While other large reptiles have long gone extinct, loggerheads have survived.

They are the oldest reptiles known to have adapted from land to sea and may have existed as far back as when all continents formed one single landmass.

Sadly, their survival is now under threat. As human populations grow and coastlines become more developed, the turtles’ nesting habitats are increasingly disturbed. Climate change and pollution add further stress. Because of these pressures, loggerheads have been placed under strict protection in Turkey and beyond.

Where You Might See Loggerheads in Kaş

If you're visiting Kaş, you’re in for a treat. Loggerhead turtles are often seen along the coast and in the serene bays surrounding the area. Boat tours from Kaş to Kekova set off in the morning and visit some of the region’s most beautiful, untouched spots.

In particular, the route towards Kalkan offers a great chance of spotting these graceful swimmers. If you're lucky, you may even get the chance to swim alongside them during one of our stops in the pristine bays around Kekova.

So next summer, why not join us in Kaş and experience the magic of sharing the sea with these ancient creatures?