Every June 16 is World Sea Turtle Day. It is a special day to learn about sea turtles, the turtles that spend their lives in the ocean.
There are many kinds of turtles. Some live in rivers and lakes. Some live on land. But today belongs to sea turtles.
Here are some fun facts about them:
• Some sea turtles travel thousands of kilometers across the ocean. That’s like flying from one country to another.
• A sea turtle can find its way back to the same area where it hatched, even after many years at sea.
• Sea turtles have special parts near their eyes that remove extra salt from ocean water. This can make them look like they are crying.
• The leatherback is the biggest sea turtle in the world. It can grow more than 2 meters (6.5 feet) long. That’s longer than many beds.
• A large leatherback can weigh more than 900 kilograms (2,000 pounds). That’s about as heavy as a small car.
• Leatherback sea turtles can dive deeper than 1,000 meters (3,280 feet). That’s deeper than a tall skyscraper.
• Sea turtles usually swim at about 1 to 3 kilometers per hour. That’s slower than a bicycle, but they can keep swimming for a very long time.
• Mother sea turtles come onto beaches to lay their eggs.
• One nest can hold more than 100 eggs.
• Baby sea turtles often hatch at night and race to the sea. Many are only about the size of your hand.
• Green sea turtles help keep underwater seagrass healthy.
• Hawksbill sea turtles help coral reefs by eating sponges.
• Sea turtles have been swimming in Earth’s oceans for millions of years. They were already around when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
• Sea turtles are good at following the rhythms of nature. They follow waves, tides, seasons, and long journeys across the ocean. In a way, their lives move to the beat of the sea.
If the ocean had an orchestra, sea turtles would not be the singers. They would be the travelers, quietly following the music of the waves.
⌨ ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ