Find the sea turtle Caretta - Caretta near to the beach of Maleme!
There are 7 sea turtle species, three of them exist in the Mediterranean Sea (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas and Dermochelys coriacea). From these three only Caretta- Caretta spawns in Greece. The most important spawning areas are Zakynthos, Pelloponisos and Crete. In Crete, Caretta Caretta spawns in Rethymno, Messara and Chania gulf.The sea turtle Caretta spawns every 2 with 4 years, during the breeding period the sea turtle leaves the water and goes to sandy beaches to find a spot to make its nests. When it finds it, it starts making a hole (the egg chamber) where it will place its eggs. Usually the turtles make up to 4 nests and spawn up to 120 eggs. The eggs hatch after 7 to 10 weeks, immediately the new born turtles start their climbing to the surface which can last up to 4 days. When they reach the surface they wait until night which the sand is cooler and then they run towards the sea guided from the star lights.
For the protection of the sea turtle there is in the area the association Archelon. Archelon is a nonprofit association and in cooperation with local businesses and local authorities protects the breeding of sea turtles and informs the public about the importance of it.