Catch a Boat to Dry Tortugas National Park
So where is Dry Tortugas, and how did such a natural treasure get such an odd name? Tucked about 70 miles off the coast of Key West, Florida, the park is a actually group of islands (actually more like islets, they are so small) known for its sea turtles. A portion of its unique name is explained by the fact that the Spanish word for turtles is tortugas.
But what makes it dry, given that Dry Tortugas Park is surrounded by the waters of the crystal clear blue Caribbean? The name actually comes from the days when the Spanish settled the islands, and they soon found out that there were no fresh water springs available. So the islets eventually came to be known as the Dry Tortugas, or “dry turtles.” To this day, as a major tourist attraction, boaters and tour operators must bring in their own water for visitors.
First named a National Monument in 1935 by FDR, Dry Tortugas was designated a national park in 1992 at the end of George H. W. Bush’s term. The home of the previously unfinished Civil War era Fort Jefferson, a brick structure later used as a prison to house accused conspirators in President Lincoln’s assassination, the strip of sandy beaches and shallow, colorful reefs has become a destination for 80,000 tourists each year. All leave this national treasure in amazement at its fascinating history involving its original intent to be a fortress against the real Caribbean pirates.
Visitors to Dry Tortugas can enjoy a large array of activities, from educational tours of Ft. Jefferson, to lazy days on the beach, to spectacular wildlife snorkel tours of the corral reef.
Of course, visitors can only arrive by chartered boat of sea plane. So if you want to book a trip, a Dry Tortugas charter will be necessary. There are some great discounts available on Dry Tortugas charters, Key West hotels, Key West snorkeling, and other recreation packages at Gold Card Key West.
This entry was posted on Saturday, March 13th, 2010 at 4:59 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.