Saturday 20 October 2012

Huge Abandoned Island Fortress In Florida

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Seventy nautical miles off the coast of Key West in Florida is a series of seven islands set among a graveyard of over 200 ships, crowned with a massive 19th century fortress that lay abandoned for nearly a century. The Dry Tortugas once hosted Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon and an influx of marauding pirates; today it's a bird and wildlife sanctuary and a national park.

1 comment(s):

Richard said...

I have been to Dry Tortugas. The history is interesting, Dr. Samuel Mudd convicted of conspiracy for helping John Wilkes Booth after he assassinated President Lincoln was imprisoned at Fort Jefferson there. Dr. Mudd redeemed himself by treating patients during a yellow fever epidemic at the fort.

There is also great snorkeling to see interesting fish right off the beach. You can take a sea plane ride or boat ride from Key West.