Florida red-bellied turtle in Rainbow Springs, Rainbow Springs State Park, Florida

© Michel Roggo/Minden Picture

Turtle-y nice day for a swim. World Turtle Day

That's a Florida red-bellied turtle celebrating World Turtle Day with a dip in the clear waters of Rainbow Springs State Park in Florida. This river turtle species spends the bulk of its day basking in Florida’s abundant sunshine and chomping on vegetation, but it’s nice to cool off with a swim, too. Red-bellied turtles have been known to sneak into alligator nests to lay eggs. If you’re going to find someone to protect your kids, you might as well make it an alligator!

World Turtle Day celebrates all things chelonian, with turtle and tortoise lovers dressing up as turtles or wearing green summer dresses. The day can include missions to save turtles, research activities, and educational opportunities for people to learn more about these gentle, famously unhurried creatures. Come out of your shell for the day and take some turtle time.