2012 Map of Dry Tortugas

About this map

Loggerhead Key and Garden Key stand as the primary landforms in this maritime survey, surrounded by the expansive waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The area is defined by its treacherous underwater topography, where mariners navigate a complex system of hazards including Smith Shoal, Brilliant Shoal, White Shoal, and the Tortugas Bank. Navigational safety for the Dry Tortugas is anchored by the Dry Tortugas Light, a critical landmark for vessels traversing the Northwest Channel. This 2012 chart captures the precise relationship between these remote keys and the surrounding banks, documenting the delicate geography of the Florida Keys' westernmost reaches where coral shoals and open sea meet.