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Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park
Fort Jefferson on Garden Key at the Tortugas National Park.

Park history and information

70 miles west of Key West lies seven small islands, composed of coral reefs and sand, that 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. See more pictures in our Tortugas photo gallery.


Dry Tortugas Ferry tours
Take a high speed catamaran to the Dry Tortugas National Park.



The Tortugas were first discovered 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.

In the early 1800's, U.S. military attention was drawn to the keys 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.

Weather and climate


Temperatures range from the 60's to mid-80's. April, May, and September are often idyllic.

Average air temperature:

 
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
º F
75
75
79
82
85
88
89
89
88
84
80
76
º C
24
24
26
28
29
31
32
32
31
29
27
24

Average water temperature:

 
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
º F
69
70
75
79
83
86
87
87
86
82
76
72
º C
21
21
24
26
28
30
31
31
30
28
24
22

Average rainfall:

 
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
in
2.0
1.8
1.7
1.8
3.5
5.1
3.6
5.0
5.9
4.4
2.9
2.0
cm
5.1
4.6
4.3
4.6
8.9
12.9
9.1
12.7
14.9
11.2
7.4
5.1

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