Page 39 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

Look Out For Loggerheads
The Ionian Islands, especially the southern coasts of
Zákynthos (p82) and Kefaloniá (p84), are popular breeding
grounds for the beautiful loggerhead turtle. Partially
successful measures, such as banning people from some
breeding beaches at night, have been taken to help this
protected species. If you’re lucky you might meet one while
swimming, but you have more chance spotting them in
Argostóli harbour (p84), where they are regular visitors.

Loggerhead turtles, spotted
during a dive and (inset) TOP MARINE
4
swimming near a yacht, CREATURES
just offshore
John Dory
With its flat oval body
and mohawk-like dorsal
fins, this strange fish
patrols offshore rocks.
Jellyfish
Whether translucent or
orangey brown, these
insidious floaters with
stinging tentacles are
not to be tangled with.
Octopus
More often spotted on a
plate, the wily octopus
catches its prey with its
powerful suckers and
can change colour.
Great Pipefish
NATURE LOVERS mistake this oddity,
Snorkellers may
with its elongated body
and long thin snout,
for a piece of seaweed.

Step into Spring
Almost as colourful as Greek
village life is the variety of
flowers that bloom in spring,
especially the ubiquitous
yellow broom. Crete (p244) is
a true botanist’s dream, with
no less than 1,700 species,
including sixty different
types of orchid. Go on a
guided tour with Pure Crete
to see the best of the blooms
(www.purecrete.com).

Passing beautiful blooms
while walking to Crete’s
Samariá Gorge
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