Catch a Boat to Dry Tortugas National Park
So where is Dry Tortugas anyway? And how did such a unique national treasure get such a strange name? About 68 miles off the western tip of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is a group of tiny islets known for their sea turtles. Since tortugas is Spanish for turtles, that explains a portion of its unique name.
But what makes it dry, given that Dry Tortugas Park is surrounded by the waters of the crystal clear blue Caribbean? The name comes from when the Spanish settled the group of islands, and they soon figured out that no fresh water springs existed there. So the islands came eventually to be called the Dry Tortugas, or “dry turtles.” To this day, as a popular tourism destination, boaters must bring their own water to the islands.
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 just before Bill Clinton won the November election. 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 in amazement at the intriguing history of the former based originally conceived as a defense against — you guessed it — the (real) pirates of the Caribbean.
Visitors can now enjoy all sorts of fascinating and recreational activities at Dry Tortugas park, from a historical tour of Fort Jefferson, to relaxation on the sandy beaches, to an absolutely memorable snorkel expedition to see the amazing sea life.
Of course, the only access to the island is by boat of sea plan. 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.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.