Islands of Discovery: Dry Tortugas National Park

Field research often requires field laboratories. Not surprisingly, those labs are in some of the most interesting ecosystems on the planet. With clear water, diverse habitats, and abundant life, the Dry Tortugas – 70 miles beyond Key West, Florida – hosted America’s first tropical marine laboratory from 1904-1939. Researchers there learned about everything from marine ecosystems to the chemistry of fertilization. And even how to make underwater color photographs. The legacy of science continues today as Dry Tortugas National Park and its partners work to understand and protect this special place.

For more information and for the audio described version:

[ghostshipwarriors]

Loved your video! I live in Key West and am a captain that runs charters out to the The Dry Tortugas and didn’t know about this laboratory.
I took a group of PTSD veterans out and was able to witness them doing a turtle release.
I shared it with all the veterans we have taken out there and hopefully they will enjoy it as well

[OSUHistory]

We're making a short (16 min. or so) video on some of the National Parks. I see you have a lot of videos on YouTube. Are they Creative Commons and would we be able to use short clips from some of them?

[Markv]

The elephant in the room that no YTer wants to talk about as far as visiting this park is the $235 cost for the ferry.

When you consider that's about the same cost of a cheap 2- or 3-night Caribbean cruise, all meals included, its cost-to-fun ratio may be considered a little high to many if not most.

[theodorejay]

Wow although at the park more than 4 times the light house & Loggerhead Key is something I doubt I'll ever visit in person. Thanks for sharing 🙏

[dianewallaceEVs]

Very interesting. Thank you for this content.

[CapnTom-ndjl]

I was in the eyewall of hurricane ian. I have a seaplane(northill) anchor. A seaplane anchor can hold 35 times that of a mushroom(wheight alone) anchor. So my 45lb anchor can hold the equivalent of a 45lb×35= 1575lb solid block of cement. My boat did not thrive in Hurricane ian because of luck. I have been interested in what to do if there is a hurricane and you are in a boat since i was 14 yrs old. I am now 42 years old.

[martinshields]

Ranger Curtis, what exactly is "Sussustenance" the word you use at 3:18. ??? The word is -Sustenance...there is no 'sus' preceeding the word. Wow.