Moat around Ft Jefferson in Dry Tortugas

Moat around Ft Jefferson in Dry Tortugas

 

 

 

 

 

 

The moat around Fort Jefferson was there for multiple reasons.

First it protected the external walls of Fort Jefferson from heavy surf that could destroy the fort. Thus the exterior wall around the outside of the moat is a protective barrier from ravages of the ocean.

Secondly, the moat means that any attacker will have to gain entry to the fort from that water......the water in the moat. Back in the days when Fort Jefferson was being constructed black powder was used. Keeping black powder DRY was of utmost importance. As you might imagine, keeping that black powder dry while swimming across the moat and being shot at would be an extremely difficult thing to accomplish. Then from the water (in the moat) an attacker would have to scale the wall of the fort.

Moat around Ft Jefferson in Dry Tortugas

 

 

 

On this side of Fort Jefferson the moat is protecting the fort from waves at the far end.

However, closer to us you can see dry land on the outside of the moat wall. Thus, on this end the moat was used to protect against individual invaders

Moat around Ft Jefferson in Dry Tortugas

 

 

When originally designed this moat was added protection at the fort. On this side of Fort Jefferson there is some land on Garden Key so it would have been possible for invaders to come ashore briefly. But if they got ashore on this side of the island they would now have to get across this moat and try to scale the fort wall from the water. And they were going to have to do this while keeping their black powder dry. As you can see swimming across the moat with weapons while keeping their black powder dry was going to be a difficult task especially while evading gun fire from the fort.

Moat around Ft Jefferson on Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas

 

 

 

 

 

Joyce took this picture from one of the positions on the corner of the fort. Each corner had these protrusions that used to fire down the side of the fort. Thus a enemy trying to cross the moat would be subject to crossfire from each of the corners.

 

Moat around Ft Jefferson in Dry Tortugas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The moat on this side of Fort Jefferson was to protect the fort from waves during storms.

Fort Jefferson was constructed on Garden Key which is only around 16-acres total and Fort Jefferson consumes 10-acres. As you can see the North side of Fort Jefferson was is actually in the water with only this moat wall protecting it from the ravages of high waves.

 

Yankee Freedom II is the ferry to Garden Key and Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas National Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since Garden Key and Fort Jefferson are located in the Dry Tortugas 70-miles west of Key West the only way to get here is by boat or sea plane.

We opted for the "boat" option and took the Yankee Freedom II ferry from Key West to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas.

The 70-mile ride each way on the Yankee Freedom II is a special treat itself.

It takes you past other islands in the Florida Keys chain of islands. However, these islands are not connected to the mainland by bridge. Once you leave Key West Harbor on the Yankee Freedom II you are heading into an area only accessible by boat or sea plane. Thirty miles from Key West the Yankee Freedom II takes you past the Marquesas Keys and thousands of lobster trap buoys and the boats working these lobster traps.

The Yankee Freedom II is the ferry service that transports visitors to Dry Tortugas National Park every day.