Visting Dry Tortugas National Park
March 14, 2010 – 8:45 amSo where is Dry Tortugas, and how did such a natural treasure get such an odd 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? It turns out that the name comes from when the Spaniards occupied the islands, and they quickly discovered there was no fresh water available. So the islands came eventually to be called 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 designated a National Monument by FDR, the Dry Tortugas islets were named a National Park in ...