Visit Dry Tortugas Fl
Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon discovered this group of islands in 1513, and named them after the turtles –tortugas– that were everywhere. The adjective “dry” was added to indicate the absence of fresh, drinkable water. Of course, Dry Tortugas are anything but dry, with plenty of swimming, snorkeling, fishing, boating, kayaking and jet skiing. What was once the bane of sailing vessels is today the boon of explorers: the underwater gallery of shipwrecks caused by treacherous coral reefs in the vicinity. This maritime hazard was the impetus for the construction of a lighthouse on Garden Key in 1825. Other dangers came in the form of pirates, who used Dry Tortugas as a base from which to launch attacks on hapless merchant ships.
Visit Dry Tortugas Fl. Dry Tortugas are one of the most popular birdwatching sites in the world, with species such as the golden warbler, double-crested cormorant, masked booby, sooty tern, brown and black noddy, kestrel and kingfisher. Most people have never even heard of these feathered folks, let alone seen one! The prevalence or paucity of certain species depends on the season. Dolphin-watching tours and excursions in glass-bottomed boats reveal hundreds of other marine creatures, from tiny crabs scrambling across the sandy ocean floor to steely sharks gliding stealthily through the water.
In addition to nature’s diverse and splendid representation, Dry Tortugas boast an impressive architectural wonder, the historic, 200 year-old Fort Jefferson, officially designated a national park in 1992. In its heyday, this formidable stronghold was a vital link in the chain of forts that guarded the east coast. The Yankee Freedom II, a type of ship known as a catamaran,I ferries visitors back and forth from Key West 70 miles away. If you want to get there quicker than the two hours by ferry, a seaplane will take you there in less than half the time (at a significantly higher price). Fort Jefferson, and its lighthouse, is located on Garden Key, the second largest island, after Loggerhead Key. The other islands, all surnamed “Key,” are Bush, Long, Hospital, Middle and East.
Visit Dry Tortugas Fl Dry Tortugas have had their share of famous, and infamous, visitors. Writer Ernest Hemingway, an avid fisherman, spent 12 years living in the Florida Keys, during which he frequented Dry Tortugas, and naturalist John Audubon found many avian subjects for his paintings nearly a century earlier. Dr. Samuel Mudd, who was charged with conspiracy in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, was incarcerated at Fort Jefferson, which served as a prison during the Civil War.
Dry Tortugas are definitely worth the visit!
