Dry Tortugas Florida, USA.

The Dry Tortugas are 7 coral islands about 110 KM (= 70 Miles) west of Key West located. These islands can only be reached by a hydrofoil or a seaplane. The boat ride may be rough on some days but if you do not suffer under extreme seasickness you will like this trip.

The name “Dry Tortugas” is linked to the lack of drinking water sources. The need for fresh water on these islands can only be solved through the collection of rainwater or the desalination of seawater.

This fact is the reason why these islands until now have remained relatively natural. The only inhabitants on these islands are birds who stopped by on their way to the north or breed there in the nature sanctuary.

For this reason the Dry Tortugas are well known by the ornithologist and bird-lovers that come to observe the gannets and swallows in their habitat.

Another interesting bird and the symbol of these islands is the frigate bird. He circles or hovers over the islands and is always in search of fellow from whom he can steal their fish. The frigate bird has a wing span width of 2 m (nearly 3 feet). Because of this wing span width he can not land or start from a flat surface and has no chance to go hunting on even ground. Therefore he makes this "fish theft” in the air to survive.

Besides bird watching you can also stay for snorkeling and swimming. Just in front of the coastline there are coral fields which can be reach with swimming moves. But please make sure that you do not touch the corals with your feet or hands because then the corals will die.

The biggest attraction at the Garden Key the largest coral island of the Dry Tortugas is Fort Jefferson. This is a stone fortress from the 19th Century and belonged to the ring of Defense of the United States at that time. This fort was build to monitor and defend the Straits of Florida against enemies.

The construction of this fortress started in 1845 and lasted over 30 years. The fort was never finished and this is still visible.

The fortress consists of a 15 m (= 48 feet) high wall with has a mean thickness of 2.5 m (= 8 feet). The fortress is surrounded by a 21 m (=67 feet) wide water canal which should make the access to the fortress more difficult.

Originally 1500 soldiers and 450 guns were planed to be stationed in the casemates to ensure the defense. Only a part of these guns were ever installed.

It was planed to collect the supply of fresh water for the soldiers in underground cistern but this plan could not be successfully realized in the necessary way because of architectural problems.

Also the climatic conditions for the soldiers were very difficult. During the summer months it was usually hot and humid and diseases were a big problem in this climate. Under these circumstances the planned military strength was never reached.

After the end of the civil war the most soldiers were withdrawn and the fort was used as a prison for deserters and government criminals. The most famous prisoner was Wilkes Booth the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln.

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