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Dry Tortugas National Park
@drytortugasnps

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Ahoy, mates! Today be #TalkLikeaPirateDay! Did ye know that the Dry Tortugas has a long history wit' pirates 'n privateers? Privateers operated throughout the Straits of Florida. These privately owned and equipped warships were commissioned by governments to attack enemy vessels during wartime, taking precious goods and treasures. However, when countries were not at war, privateers were out of a job and often became self-employed pirates. During the 1600s and 1700s, the Spanish treasure ships sailed together with warships for protection. These flotillas, as they were called, were attractive prizes for English, French, and Dutch privateers and pirates. The Florida Straits between Cuba and the Florida Keys was a narrow and heavily used corridor, requiring an experienced mariner to navigate the dangerous waters. The shallow waters of the Dry Tortugas and other keys provided an escape for pirates using fast, shallow-draft vessels to attack and outmaneuver the slower, large ships. To learn more about pirates and privateers in your National Parks, visit https://www.nps.gov/subjects/pirates/parks.htm NPS photo by Channing Gaufillet Alt text: Two sandy islands and a third mangrove-covered island can be seen in the shallow waters of the Tortugas. #DryTortugas #DryTortugasNationalPark #Pirates