Trifter

Did you know that crocodiles have been found in the waters of Dry Tortugas National Park? But that doesn’t stop the beginner and expert snorkelers from enjoying an abundance of colorful tropical fish and living coral in the water. Dry Tortugas National Park is located west about 70 miles of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico. A four hour boat ride is necessary to cross the waters of the straight which connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The park is one of the smallest in Florida and least visited. Known for its variety of birds, legends of shipwrecks and sunken treasures, Dry Tortugas National Park is definitely a historical park to visit on your next vacation.

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In 1513, Ponce de Leon visited the island. He caught 160 sea turtles and thereafter named the islands the “Tortugas” or turtles. During the 1600s and 1700s the area around the was used by pirates as a base for attacking merchant shipping in the Gulf, although this activity was largely eliminated when the United Sates acquired Florida in 1821. In 1825 a lighthouse was built on Garden Key to provide warning to shipping about the dangers of reefs in and around the Tortugas chain.

After the War of 1812, a set of forts stretching from Maine to Texas was envisioned to provide defense for the  country. Fort Jefferson on the remote Tortugas was planned as the greatest of these forts, however, the fort dragged on for another thirty years and was never finished. As the military value of Fort Jefferson waned, its pristine reefs, abundant sea life and impressive numbers of birds grew in value. In addition, “The Gibraltar of the Gulf,” is sometimes referred to the walls of Fort Jefferson rising from Garden Key. There is only a single entrance to the fort. Surrounded by a moat are the walls of the fort intended to provide protection against potential intruders and the surf. Fort Jefferson is a six sided building constructed of 16 million hand-made red brick. The moat is filled with sea water and turtle grass, jellyfish, sea squirts, yellow stingray, queen conch, mangrove snapper, bristle worms and sea cucumber. It took several years to complete the moat.  Although the walls of the fort are in pretty good condition, according to research, the walls began cracking due to various hurricanes, which have ruined the island.

Perhaps the reason why Dry Tortugas National Park is the least visited is because people have never heard about it. Whether you are a history bluff or simply a bird watcher, don’t forget to explore Dry Tortugas National Park on your next vacation.

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Jefferson Fort

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Hurricane Katrina on Gulf coast.

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spectacular view of the moat.

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