intact coral reef community.” First discovered by the Spanish Explorer Ponce de Leon in 1516 and named for throngs of sea turtles he found, the 100-square mile park offers picturesque blue waters, superlative coral reefs, vast rookeries of rare seabirds, historic shipwrecks and Fort Jefferson, a 19th Century masonry fort with a rich history. Once heavily hunted, sea turtles nesting there today are protected as threatened species in the U.S.
Within the park is the Research Natural Area (RNA), a 46-square-mile marine reserve designed to restore and maintain ecological integrity and resilience by removing disturbance from fishing and boat anchoring. While fishing and anchoring are prohibited, the RNA remains open for boaters, divers, snorkelers and researchers to explore, enjoy and learn about the reserve’s abundant coral reefs, fish and seagrass. Studies have revealed that several species of fish are larger and more numerous inside the RNA, as a result of protection it provides them. The RNA in combination with the nearby Tortugas Ecological Reserves and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, protect spawning areas that provide a major source of young for the fisheries of the wider Florida Keys reef tract.
Access to the park is by ferry, seaplane or by private boat and is well worth the trip. Learn more about how to get there. www.nps.gov/drto
By the Numbers
U.S. Ocean and Great Lakes Parks
88 parks across 23 states and four U.S. territories
11,281 shoreline miles
2,504,570 acres of marine waters
89,212,379 recreation visits in 2015
Over $5 billion USD in visitor spending in 2015
Learn more about U.S. ocean parks: www.nps.gov/oceans
See http://findyourpark.com/
Learn more about diving the underwater wonders of the National Parks: https://www.nps.gov/submerged/homepage/npsmap2.html
Written by: byline details will be provided by McCreedy
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