Travel Videos of Dry Tortugas National Park in VHS and DVD featuring Sightseeing Travelogues and guides along with Independent Films with Destination, Excursion, Souvenir, Tourist, Vacation, and Video Tour Information
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 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.
Travel Videos about Dry Tortugas National Park are great for planning your vacation, learning more about the culture or simply experiencing what Dry Tortugas National Park has to offer. Whether you are looking to prepare for a countryside tour or to pickout the sites of a city you would like to see, travel videos provide valuable insight to help you get the most out of your visit. Travel with the experts on a video tour of Dry Tortugas National Park on the sightseeing videos listed below. Also, please use our search bar on the right to find tune your search even more. |