Many people have been fascinated by Dry Tortugas because of its magnificent aquatic life and historic value. Although this park is a beautiful site to see, it is encountered with various problems. Dry Tortugas has many unique qualities; and for that reason, the park is doing all it can to preserve its significance.
Dry Tortugas is located 70 miles off the coast of Key West, Florida (Dustin and Wolff, 3). Dry Tortugas consists of 6 islands: Garden Key, Loggerhead Key, Bush Key, Hospital Key, Middle Key, and East Key. "A key is a low elevation island formed on top of an ancient coral reef" (National Park Service). Garden Key is home to the abandoned coastal fort of the U.S. military and Loggerhead Key is where Harbor Light Lighthouse resides. Its light is powerful that it can be seen from 20 miles away. Bush Key is the area in which the Sooty birds nest and Middle Key is a small area of storm washed land (National Park Service).
Dry Tortugas was founded by Juan Ponce De Leon in 1513. …show more content…
There are three hundred species of birds, in which the Audubon's Crested Carcara, Piping Plover, Roseate Tern, and Red Knot are endangered. More than half of the life on Dry Tortugas consists of marine life. The American Crocodile, West Indian Manatee, Caribbean Monk Seal, Finback Whale, Humpback Whale, Right Whale and the famous, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Green Sea, Kemp's Ridley, and Leatherback Sea turtles are all endangered species. Beneath the Dry Tortugas islands, lies some of North America's healthiest and most magnificent coral reefs. Some of the corals under Dry Tortugas are under the Endangered Marine Life Act, such as, the Boulder Star Coral, Elkhorn Coral, Lobed Coral, and the Rough Cactus Coral. There are over 120 plant species on Dry Tortugas and thirty-eight percent of it is underwater. The common plant seen on Dry Tortugas is Seagrass and it makes up most of the vegetation (National Park
Dry Tortugas is located 70 miles off the coast of Key West, Florida (Dustin and Wolff, 3). Dry Tortugas consists of 6 islands: Garden Key, Loggerhead Key, Bush Key, Hospital Key, Middle Key, and East Key. "A key is a low elevation island formed on top of an ancient coral reef" (National Park Service). Garden Key is home to the abandoned coastal fort of the U.S. military and Loggerhead Key is where Harbor Light Lighthouse resides. Its light is powerful that it can be seen from 20 miles away. Bush Key is the area in which the Sooty birds nest and Middle Key is a small area of storm washed land (National Park Service).
Dry Tortugas was founded by Juan Ponce De Leon in 1513. …show more content…
There are three hundred species of birds, in which the Audubon's Crested Carcara, Piping Plover, Roseate Tern, and Red Knot are endangered. More than half of the life on Dry Tortugas consists of marine life. The American Crocodile, West Indian Manatee, Caribbean Monk Seal, Finback Whale, Humpback Whale, Right Whale and the famous, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Green Sea, Kemp's Ridley, and Leatherback Sea turtles are all endangered species. Beneath the Dry Tortugas islands, lies some of North America's healthiest and most magnificent coral reefs. Some of the corals under Dry Tortugas are under the Endangered Marine Life Act, such as, the Boulder Star Coral, Elkhorn Coral, Lobed Coral, and the Rough Cactus Coral. There are over 120 plant species on Dry Tortugas and thirty-eight percent of it is underwater. The common plant seen on Dry Tortugas is Seagrass and it makes up most of the vegetation (National Park