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Dry Tortugas National Park
Almost 70 miles (112.9 km) west of Key West lies a cluster of seven islands,composed of coral reefs and sand, called the Dry Tortugas. Along with the surrounding shoals and waters, they make up Dry Tortugas National Park. The area is known for its famous bird and marine life, and its legends of pirates and sunken gold. Ft. Jefferson, the largest of the 19th century American coastal forts is a central feature.
The Tortugas were first discoverd by Ponce de Leon in 1513. Abundant sea turtles or "tortugas" provisioned his ships with fresh meat, but there was no fresh water-the tortugas were dry. Since the days of Spanish exploration,the reefs and shoals of the Dry Tortugas have been a serious hazard to navigation and the site of hundreds of shipwrecks. U.S. military attention was drawn to the keys in the early 1800's due to their strategic location in the Florida Straits. Plans were made for a massive fortress and construction began in 1846, but the fort was never completed. The invention of the rifled cannon made it obsolete. As the military value of Fort Jefferson waned, its pristine reefs, abundant sea life and impressive numbers of birds grew in value. In 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt set aside Fort Jefferson and the surrounding waters as a national monument. The area was redesignated as Dry Tortugas National Park in 1992 to protect both the historical and natural features. Contact Information
P.O. Box 6208 Key West, FL 33041 305-242-7700 Sponsored LinksGetting There
By Plane
Key West International Airport
By Car
By Plane
Getting Around
Weather
Subtropical climate. Temperatures range from the mid-50's to mid-80's.
There are two seasons. Winter storm season (December-March), windy with rough seas Tropical storm season (June-November). April and May are idyllic. Activities
Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.
If you want more information about backpacking and hiking, give thebackpacker.com a try. From backpacking gear reviews, hiking trail reviews and much more, it covers all aspects of wilderness travel.
Recommended Activities Visitor Center in Fort Jefferson Self-guiding walking tour of Fort Jefferson. Ranger-conducted activities. Bird and wildlife watching. The Dry Tortugas are renowned for spring bird migrations and tropical bird species. Picnicking Salt water sport fishing Snorkeling, swimming and scuba diving. Patches of healthy coral reef, some easily accessible from Garden Key, are snorkeling havens.
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The National Park
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US States and even
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Choose Park by Name: Find Hiking and Biking Trails
If you like to go hiking or biking, then don't forget to get a map and guidebook. Trails.com offers a great service that allows unlimited downloads of trail guides for a small monthly fee. They even have a 14 day free trial. Whether you are looking for day hikes, backpacking trails, mountain bike routes or just short nature stroll, they cover it all.
So let Trails.com help plan your next outing.
RV Information
Are you planning on traveling with your RV? If you are, you should check out the Good Sam Club. The Good Sam Club offers discounts on camping, a free magazine subscription
and
great tips on traveling with your RV. You can also get
a free
no-obligation RV Insurance quote . Give
them a look and enjoy your trip.
Gear Up For Your Trip
Once you have finished deciding where to go, it will be time to gear up. A great place for adventure travel gear is The National Geographic Store. They have all types of maps and guides to help finalize your vacation plans.
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