The are just like living dinosaurs. I remember as a kid swimming in a local pond. I was wearing a face mask and using a snorkel. I was leisurely floating around and parting the plants and reeds by the shoreline when I open up into a clearing and come face to face with a giant snapping turtle. I was about a foot under water and completely in his element. He looked at me and slowly extended his neck in my direction. He was so close I could see the unique sparkle/sunburst pattern in his eyes. He was around the size of the one in the photo at the beginning of this thread.
My parents head me scream S%&T!!!!!!!! through the snorkel and I must have looked like a cartoon character as I propelled myself out of the pond at about 30 mph, looking like I had an outboard motor strapped to my butt.
I still like them - they are amazing creatures.
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