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Photo © Derith Bennett |
 Fort Jefferson, FloridaHarbour
Lights Limited Edition #247 Seventy miles west of Key West lies a group of seven islands comprised of coral reefs and sand. In 1513, Ponce de Leon and his crew hunted these waters for the abundant sea turtles, but found the meat dry. He aptly named the region Dry Tortugas. The dangerous shoals and reefs near these islands have destroyed hundreds of ships, leaving a long legacy of shipwrecks, strandings, and fatalities. Because of the development of commerce among the Gulf port cities, these well-traveled waters were a treacherous hazard to vessels. The first lighthouse on Garden Key was established in 1825. The light stood alone until 1846 when the US Army set its sights on building an imposing military fortification on the island. The present light was built in 1876 and topped with a 4th order Fresnel lens. The islands and the fort are now part of a national park and a popular destination for scuba divers.
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[site/styles/BottomPage.htm] Photographs by Paul L.
Brady © Harbour Lights |
