İztuzu Plajı
A long sandbar beach near Dalyan where loggerhead sea turtles come ashore to nest.
The Turkish name
İztuzu
At a glance
- Province
- Muğla, Ortaca (Dalyan)
- Length
- 4.5 km
- Protected since
- 1988
- Night closure
- 1 May – 31 October
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The story
İztuzu is a 4.5 km strip of sand between the Dalyan river delta and the Mediterranean. It is one of the main nesting beaches of the loggerhead turtle, caretta caretta, in the Mediterranean, which is why it is often called Turtle Beach.
In 1987 building began on a large hotel here. A campaign led by June Haimoff, known as Kaptan June, drew international support, and in 1988 the government stopped the project and made the beach part of a specially protected area. From 1 May to 31 October the beach closes at night, from 20.00 to 08.00, so the turtles can nest in peace.
