Dry Tortugas National Park - One of America's Least Popular National Park

  
The Dry Tortugas are a small group of islands, located at the end of the Florida Keys, USA, about 70 miles west of Key West, and 37 miles west of the Marquesas Keys, the closest islands. Still further west is the Tortugas Bank, which is completely submerged. The first Europeans to discover the islands were the Spanish in 1513 by explorer Juan Ponce de León. They are an unincorporated area of Monroe County, Florida and belong to the Lower Keys Census County Division. With their surrounding waters, they constitute the Dry Tortugas National Park.
 

 
History
The first European to discover the islands was Spanish explorer Ponce De Leon. He gave them the name on his first visit in 1513. The name is the second oldest surviving European place-name in the U.S. They were given the name Las Tortugas (The Turtles) due to 170 sea turtles taken on the islands and shoals by de Leon's men. Soon afterward, the word "Dry" was added to the name, to indicate to mariners the islands' lack of fresh water.



A large military fortress, Fort Jefferson, was constructed in the mid-19th century in effort for the United States to protect the extremely lucrative shipping channel. Low and flat, these islands and reefs pose a serious navigation hazard to ships passing through the 75-mile-wide straits between the gulf and the ocean. Consequently, these high risk reefs have created a natural “ship trap” and have been the site of hundreds of shipwrecks. A lighthouse was constructed at Garden Key in 1825 to warn incoming vessels of the dangerous reefs and later, a bricktower lighthouse was constructed on Loggerhead Key in 1858 for the same purpose. Discover and explore the rich heritage of Dry Tortugas National Park on the history and culture pages.

From 1903 until 1939, the Carnegie Institute of Washington operated the Marine Biology Laboratory on Loggerhead Key which "…quickly became the best-equipped marine biological station in the tropical world.” Through the years, over 150 researchers used the facilities to perform a wide range of research.

Animals
A large military fortress, Fort Jefferson, was constructed in the mid-19th century in effort for the United States to protect the extremely lucrative shipping channel. Low and flat, these islands and reefs pose a serious navigation hazard to ships passing through the 75-mile-wide straits between the gulf and the ocean. Consequently, these high risk reefs have created a natural “ship trap” and have been the site of hundreds of shipwrecks. A lighthouse was constructed at Garden Key in 1825 to warn incoming vessels of the dangerous reefs and later, a bricktower lighthouse was constructed on Loggerhead Key in 1858 for the same purpose. Discover and explore the rich heritage of Dry Tortugas National Park on the history and culture pages.
 
Visiting the Dry Tortugas
Because it is located 70 miles west of Key West, the Dry Tortugas park is one of the least accessible National Parks in the U.S. Visiting the park by private boat is difficult because of its distance, so most visitors come by ferry, catamaran, or seaplane from Key West, Florida. Official ferry and transportation services to the Dry Tortugas includes the Yankee Freedom II, Sunny Days, Sailboat Charter and the Key West Seaplane Adventures.
Other National Park Links

Dry Tortugas National Park - NPS
 National Parks Poster Shop - Visitor Center

American Park Network

Fodor's National Parks

Visit Your National Parks - National Parks Services

GORP - U.S. National Parks and Preserves

National Park Magazine
  
 

Our Kid Magazine's Top 10 National Parks

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America's Best Nature Top Ten 

Beaches -  Top 25 overall beaches - Romantic - by category

Hiking Trails - America's Best Hiking Trails and links

Rock Climbing - Top Ten National Parks for Rock Climbing

Climbing America's Tallest Mountians

Mountain Peaks - America's Tallest Mountains

National Parks - Links to all  National Parks  
 Most Popular NP
National Parks for Kids
 State Parks - Top 10 USA state parks and state park listing

Waterfalls - Best Waterfalls in the USA

Birding Trails - America's Best Birding Trails and links

Butterfly Centers

Fall Foliage - Best places to see the leaves turn
 Hurricanes

Dry Tortugas is one of the least visited national parks in the United States. So, if you want us to feature one of your favorite and not well known national park, please email us and let us know!