Know Before You Go

In the Mediterranean, the Adriatic Sea’s shallow northern waters shelter tens of thousands of loggerhead sea turtles for the first 20 years of their life.

Reddish brown in color, loggerhead turtles are the largest of the hard-shelled turtles. Characteristically sturdy, an adult loggerhead can weigh as much as 375 pounds and reach lengths of almost 4 feet. Strong jaws break through the shells of clams, mussels, shrimp and crabs.

The slow-moving creatures are considered a crucial part of any thriving marine ecosystem, helping to support both small and large aquatic species. In the Kornati Islands loggerheads are listed as vulnerable, still bouncing back from the verge of extinction with the help of coordinated conservation efforts from a handful of neighboring countries.