Talk:Dry Tortugas

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Please note minor inaccuracies in above document ---- this is from the official NPS website

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. Fort Jefferson, one of the largest coastal forts ever built, is a central feature. 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.

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. -----From www.nps.gov/drto

From the article; added by 165.83.96.10 --Spangineer (háblame) 14:44, Jun 9, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Should this article be merged with Dry Tortugas National Park?

Seems like they should be merged. But which one should go, and which should stay? - Marc Averette 22:32, 10 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Map request

It is requested that a map or maps be included in this article to improve its quality. Wikipedians in Florida may be able to help!

This article would greatly benefit from a locator map, showing the position of the subject with respect to the coastline of the mainland. -- Beland 20:45, 10 December 2006 (UTC)