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Park geography

A detailed investigation of marine environments, island structures, and coastal terrain.

Dry Tortugas National Park Geography, Boundary Analysis, and Regional Landscape Context

Dry Tortugas National Park encompasses a significant coastal region in Monroe County, Florida, characterized by extensive marine areas and scattered island groups. This geographic profile details the park boundaries, elevation spans between sea level and three meters, and integrated natural features including reefs and sandy keys. The data provides a comprehensive overview of the terrain and environmental composition for this remote aquatic protected area.

Related tags

Marine protected areaCoral reefsBird nesting coloniesHistoric fortressShipwrecks

Remote coral archipelago with the Western Hemisphere's largest brick fortress and the United States' only nesting colonies of several tropical bird species

Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park protects a remote chain of coral islands and extensive marine environments at the far western edge of the Florida Keys, roughly 68 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico. This archipelago represents the westernmost and most isolated extent of the Florida Keys chain, with over 99 percent of the park's 64,700 acres consisting of water surrounding seven named islands. The park's defining character emerges from its unusual combination of a largely undisturbed tropical marine ecosystem housing some of the least disturbed coral reefs in the Florida Keys, together with the monumental ruins of Fort Jefferson, the largest brick masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere. Originally designated as Fort Jefferson National Monument in 1935 through the Antiquities Act and redesignated as a national park in 1992, the preserve serves dual purposes of ecological preservation and cultural heritage protection across both terrestrial and submerged landscapes.

Location
United States of America
Park type
National park
Established
1935
Area
261.8 km²
Highest point
3 m
Dry Tortugas National Park Atlas
Location overview

A coastal, island, and marine park in Monroe County, Florida

Geography and Regional Setting of Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park belongs to the United States of America, situated within Monroe County in Florida. Geographic records classify the area as an island, coastal, and marine protected environment.
Countries
United States of America
Regions
Florida, Monroe County
Primary location
Monroe County
Geographic setting
Coastal · Island · Marine
Boundary and coordinates

Exploring the 261.84 square kilometer marine and land extent

Geographic Boundary Map for Dry Tortugas National Park

Interactive boundary geometry defines the spatial footprint of the protected marine sanctuary. Geographic details outline total area, land coverage, central coordinates, and spatial limits for mapping analysis.
Pigeon | © OpenStreetMap contributors
Boundary area
262.7 km²
Boundary perimeter
62.4 km
Northernmost point
24.7263° N
Southernmost point
24.5669° N
Easternmost point
82.7665° W
Westernmost point
82.9667° W
Geographic centre
24.6495° N, 82.8717° W
North–south span
17.7 km
East–west span
20.3 km
Dry Tortugas National Park
Elevation and terrain

Lowland relief profiles and recorded natural marine features

Dry Tortugas National Park Elevation and Terrain Geography

Recorded elevation records outline a lowland relief profile ranging from zero to three meters across the protected area. Associated natural feature cards detail named islands, reefs, and beaches located within the park boundary.
Minimum elevation
0 m
Maximum elevation
3 m
Highest point
3 m

Selected named natural features

Peaks

Garden Key High Point

2.1 m

Reefs

Brilliant Shoal

Bays

Northkey Harbor

0 m

Reefs

White Shoal

Beaches

North Swim Beach

Viewpoints

Bastion C

Environmental setting

Tropical lowland marine and coastal island landscape categories

Dry Tortugas National Park Environmental Setting and Geography Classifications

Recorded habitat types and dominant water features provide interpretive categories for understanding the physical setting of Dry Tortugas National Park. Associated classifications link directly to relevant atlas destinations sharing similar environmental profiles.
Relief
Lowland
Climate
Tropical
Water
Water-dominated
Forest cover
No forest cover
Seasonality
Year-round

Landscape features

Islands · Coast · Beach · Reefs · Wetland

Habitat types

Coastal habitat · Marine habitat · Wetland

Park atlas

Explore the broader regional geography and connected protected landscapes surrounding the remote Florida Keys.

Discover Nearby National Parks and Protected Areas around Dry Tortugas National Park

After exploring Dry Tortugas National Park, browse other national parks and protected areas across the Florida Keys and Gulf of Mexico, comparing diverse marine and island ecosystems. This atlas view offers geographic context, revealing patterns of conservation and regional park distribution beyond the remote archipelago.
Marine protected areaFlorida Keys
Park boundaries overlap#1 closest

East

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: Geographic Atlas and Marine Protected Area Overview

Submerged reef structures and archipelago geography

Focusing on the marine geography of the Florida Keys, this detailed record outlines the sanctuary's boundaries, ranging from Atlantic coral reefs to Gulf of Mexico seagrass flats. Understand the physical scale of this protected system, its role in coastal conservation, and the unique underwater terrain that defines the southern tip of the United States.

Area
9,947 km²
Established
1990
Relief
Lowland
Climate
Subtropical
National parkFlorida
168 km away#2 closest

East

Everglades National Park: Protected Landscape Identity and Regional Geographic Context

Explore its unique natural terrain and mapped boundaries.

Understand Everglades National Park as a distinct protected landscape with significant geographic features within Florida. This page offers an atlas-driven view of its protected area, detailing its mapped boundaries and the surrounding regional natural terrain. Discover the core identity of this national park through its landscape and geographic setting, providing context for broader atlas exploration.

Area
6,106.61 km²
Established
1947
IUCN
II
Visitors
1.2M annual
Watercolor illustration depicting a panoramic view of a coastal estuary with green mangrove islands, tidal channels, and a soft pink sunset sky.
Marine protected areaFlorida
About 175 km away#3 closest

Northeast

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve: Coastal Geography and Protected Estuarine Waters

Subtropical mangrove landscapes within the Florida Gulf Coast region.

This marine protected area encompasses a vast sweep of sheltered coastal waters and tidal forests at the northern edge of the Ten Thousand Islands. The reserve stands as a prime example of an undisturbed subtropical estuary, characterized by continuous mangrove shorelines and intricate hydrologic networks that provide critical habitat for numerous estuarine dependent species.

Area
445.15 km²
Established
1980
Relief
Lowland
Climate
Subtropical
National parkMiami-Dade County
257 km away#4 closest

East

Biscayne National Park: Mapped Protected Area and Coastal Landscape

Explore its protected status and geographic setting in Miami-Dade County.

Biscayne National Park represents a significant protected area managed as a U.S. National Park, safeguarding extensive coastal and marine environments. This page offers detailed insight into the park's geographic placement within Miami-Dade County, Florida, focusing on its mapped boundaries and the unique landscape it encompasses. Understand its ecological importance and its distinct contribution to the atlas of protected lands.

Area
700 km²
Established
1980
IUCN
V
Visitors
701K annual
A horizontal watercolor painting depicting a soft-toned, light-filled forest landscape with a calm body of water in the foreground and rolling treed hills in the background.
Protected landscapeFlorida
464 km away#5 closest

North

Ocala National Forest: A Comprehensive Look at Florida's Largest National Forest Landscape

Protected scrub ecosystems and hydric river networks

Explore the geographic expanse of Ocala National Forest, the oldest national forest east of the Mississippi. This protected area features the vast Big Scrub, a unique sand pine ecosystem that anchors a diverse terrain of longleaf pine, blackwater rivers, and crystal-clear springs across multiple Florida counties.

Area
1,741.96 km²
Established
1908
Relief
Lowland
Climate
Subtropical
National parkGrand Bahama
About 486 km away#6 closest

Northeast

Lucayan National Park: National Park Geography and Mapped Landscape Exploration

Discover protected area boundaries on Grand Bahama.

Lucayan National Park stands as a distinct national park entity within the geography of Grand Bahama. This page provides a focused atlas-style exploration of the park's protected landscape, detailing its mapped area and contributing to a structured understanding of its regional context. Delve into the geographic specifics that define Lucayan National Park as a key element of the Bahamas' protected lands, suitable for detailed map-based discovery and analysis.

Area
7.84 km²
Established
1982
IUCN
II
Climate
Tropical
National parkAndros
About 488 km away#7 closest

East

Blue Holes National Park: A National Park for Detailed Geographic and Landscape Exploration

Explore mapped boundaries and regional terrain context.

Delve into the specifics of Blue Holes National Park, a designated national park offering rich opportunities for geographic discovery. This entry provides structured information focused on its protected landscape identity, mapped outlines, and its contribution to the regional geography of Andros, Bahamas. Understand the park's unique setting through detailed map context and atlas-driven insights.

Area
162 km²
Established
2002
IUCN
II
Relief
Mixed relief
National parkBahamas
About 490 km away#8 closest

East

West Side National Park National Park: Extensive Protected Landscape in the Bahamas

Mapped marine and mangrove ecosystems, plus pine forest terrain

Delve into the geographical identity of West Side National Park, a protected national park in the Bahamas renowned for its vast scale and diverse ecosystems. This landscape features significant Caribbean pine forests transitioning into extensive, intact mangrove systems along its coastlines, integrating directly with vital marine habitats. As one of the largest protected areas in the Caribbean, its ecological representation from land to sea offers a unique atlas perspective on Bahamian natural heritage and conservation.

Area
6,070 km²
Established
2002
IUCN
II
Relief
Mixed relief
MoriAtlas Explorer

Continue Exploring Dry Tortugas National Park's Protected Landscape and Geography

Deepen your understanding of Dry Tortugas National Park by exploring its specific geographic context and protected area identity within Monroe County. This atlas-driven approach allows for detailed examination of its mapped boundaries and natural landscape, providing critical insights beyond simple park facts. Continue your discovery of this unique U.S. National Park's regional setting and mapped terrain.

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