Marathonisi, located in Laganas Bay, is part of the Marine Park of Zakynthos

loggerhead turtles make the journey through Marathonisi's clear waters to the island's sandy shores to lay their eggs

Marathonisi, located in Laganas Bay, is a component of the Marine Park of Zakynthos. It is also known as "Turtle Island," and despite its relatively unknown status, it is a significant attraction in the Ionian Sea due to its unique form and its function as a nesting ground for sea turtles.

The little island sits near the larger Zakynthos island in Laganas Bay, just off Keri Beach. Pontikonisia is the collective name for the two smaller islets that comprise Marathonisi.


Beachgoers at Marathonisi have their pick of two different types of sand: coarse white sand and pebbles. Zakynthos Marine Park safeguards the latter beach due to its significance in ensuring the survival of the endangered sea turtle species.

Turle Island and the National Marine Park of Zakynthos

In 1999, the Greek island of Zakynthos became home to the first Mediterranean national park dedicated only to the preservation of sea turtles. This region is now a Natura 2000 protected area. For the critically endangered loggerhead sea turtle, or Caretta Caretta as it is officially known in science, the Marathonisi islet is a marine sanctuary.

All across the world, you may see loggerhead turtles basking in the water. In addition to the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans, they also inhabit the Mediterranean Sea.The loggerhead is a slow-reproducing marine species that is found all over the world. Every two or three years, the females lay a clutch of four eggs. Sea turtles in Zakynthos are under danger due to the rising human population.

The loggerhead turtle has the greatest life expectancy of any turtle species, clocking in at 47–67 years. This turtle comes in second place, behind only the leatherback in terms of size among living species. While most adults weigh around 135 kg (298 lb), these numbers can vary anywhere from 80 to 200 kg (180 to 440 lb). There is a loggerhead turtle that has weighed 545 kg (1,202 lb) at the world record. Human actions, like as constructing on coastal regions or placing lights along the coast, pose the biggest threat to these gentle giants by destroying their breeding sites.

Even apparently innocuous lights along seashore homes and other structures can throw off loggerhead hatchlings, making their frenzied sprint to the water all the more dangerous.

Loggerhead turtle mothers make the long, tortuous trip from Marathonisi's pristine seas to the island's sandy beaches each summer to deposit their eggs.

No one visiting this protected islet should ever do anything to harm the ecosystem, especially when swimming, because the loggerhead's existence depends on the sandy beach.

Marine parks ensure that natural marine animals may continue to exist, reproduce, and lay eggs in an undisturbed habitat.