Dry Tortugas National Park

60

2

The Dry Tortugas National Park is about 68 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico. It preserves Fort Jefferson and the seven Dry Tortugas islands which are the most isolated of the Florida Keys. The park is noted for its tropical bird breeding, abundant sea life, its coral reefs, and shipwreck and sunken treasure legends. Fort Jefferson is a massive, unfinished coastal fortress that is the park's centerpiece and it happens to be the largest brick masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere. Only accessible by seaplane or boat, the park has averaged less than 70,000 annual visitors since 2000. Park activities include snorkeling, picnicking, birdwatching, camping, scuba diving, saltwater fishing, and kayaking.

History