Visting Dry Tortugas National Park
Sunday, March 14th, 2010So 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 1992 at the tail end of George H. W. Bush’s term right before Clinton won the November election. As the site of the unfinished Fort Jefferson, a civil war era brick structure briefly used as a prison to house Lincoln’s accused assassination conspirators, the strip of sandy cays and corral reefs is now a destination for eighty thousand tourists each year. Everyone leaves in amazement at the fascinating history of the former fort originally thought of as a defense against the real pirates of the Caribbean.
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 coures, one can only get to the islands by boat or 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.