Dry Tortugas

Dry Tortugas is a remote group of small islands and reefs in the Gulf of Mexico, designated as Dry Tortugas National Park, located about 70 miles (approximately 113 kilometres) west of Key West, Florida. The park is centred on historic Fort Jefferson and surrounding marine and island habitats.

Fort Jefferson was constructed in the mid-19th century as a coastal fortress and logistics base; work continued over several decades. The islands later gained protected status and were designated as a national park to conserve their cultural and natural resources.

The Dry Tortugas lie on isolated shallow banks in the Gulf of Mexico, roughly 70 miles west of Key West, and are accessible only by boat or air from the Florida Keys.

• Access: Located roughly 70 miles (about 113 kilometres) west of Key West, Florida, the islands are reached by ferry, private boat or seaplane from Key West.
• Nature and activities: The park protects extensive coral reef habitat and important seabird nesting sites; snorkeling and diving around the keys are major visitor activities.

What to See #

• Fort Jefferson: Fort Jefferson, a massive mid-19th-century coastal fortress on Garden Key, constructed of brick and designed to protect shipping routes and the Gulf approaches.
• Loggerhead Key and surrounding keys: Loggerhead Key and other small islands that form the Dry Tortugas group, which support coral reefs, seabird colonies and snorkeling/diving sites around the keys.