Dry Tortugas National Park Consisting mostly of open, aquamarine water, remote, 100-square-mile Dry Tortugas National Park lies 70 miles west of Key West. An assemblage of seven islands, plus protected coral reefs, it was established to protect the island and marine ecosystems and is accessible only by private boat, ferry or seaplane. On 14-acre Garden Key, you’ll find the park’s headquarters, beaches and impressive, historic, 19th-century Fort Jefferson, the park’s crown jewel. Fort Jefferson National Monument was designated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt under the Antiquities Act on January 4, 1935. The largest allmasonry fort in the United States, the never-completed structure was built between 1846 and 1875 to guard the gateway to the Gulf of Mexico — a very lucrative shipping channel. Featuring decorative brickwork and 2,000 arches, it also has a moat that requires crossing a bridge. Meanwhile, a lighthouse and sea turtles star on Loggerhead Key and nearby Loggerhead Reef reveals the 1875 Windjammer Wreck, a popular dive site. Bush Key serves as a nesting site for seabirds, such as sooty terns.
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UNITED VAN LINES NATIONAL PARKS GUIDE
SOUTHEAST
T H E F LO RA A N D FAU N A Closer to Cuba than the U.S. mainland, the Tortugas are a very remote ocean wilderness replete with historical and natural wonders. Here, coral and seagrass communities flourish, hosting colorful coral and reef fish that entice snorkelers. Above the surface, nearly 300 species of birds — many migratory — await observation, while large sea turtles lounge and lay their eggs on sun-drenched arcs of sand. The park’s native flora is typical of that seen on the Caribbean islands,
