The Dry Tortugas National Park is nirvana for nature lovers.
Whether it’s exploring a shipwreck, diving through coral reefs that are thousands of years old, swimming in crystal clear waters or touring a Civil War-era fort, this gem has it all.
“The corals look like gigantic mushrooms gone wild,” Jim Bohnsack of the National Deep Sea Coral Reef Marine Fisheries Service’s Science Center in Miami notes on the park’s website.
The park, which was discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1513, is only accessible by private boat, seaplane or ferry — and now, by virtual tour.
The secluded 100-acre national park, 70 miles west of Key West, is made up of seven small islands and is 96 percent submerged in water.
On the virtual tour, viewers will see its crystal-clear waters and fascinating sea life up close and learn about Fort Jefferson, a massive fort built between 1846 and 1875.
“The Dry Tortugas is a fascinating mix of natural and cultural resources,” National Park Service diver Curtis Hall tells viewers. “Our job to preserve them for future generations.”
After watching this, you’ll be planning an in-person trip where there’s even more to discover in this biologically diverse underwater world, including turtles and birds.
For more information, visit artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service/dry-tortugas/near-little-africa-tour.