Iztuzu Beach (Turtle Beach)
Iztuzu Beach is a long beach near Dalyan, in the Ortaca district of Mugla Province in southwestern Turkey. It is world famous as one of the rare breeding grounds for loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) and is often called Turtle Beach. The greatest threat to the survival of the loggerhead sea turtle is on these sandy beaches where its life begins. This has triggered an international conservation effort that began in the 1990s. The effort to protect loggerhead sea turtle eggs and to assure a safe breeding ground for this endangered species has made international headlines. This issue is one of the most critical items on Turkeys environmental agenda. The two other breeding grounds for the turtles are also in Turkey, in Adana districts of Karatas and Yumurtalik.