Buck Island Reef National Monument

Not to be confused with Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Buck Island Reef National Monument
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)

Show map of the Virgin Islands Show map of Caribbean Location of Buck Island Reef National Monument in the US Virgin Islands
Location	Virgin Islands, United States
Coordinates	17°47′13″N 64°37′09″W / 17.78694°N 64.61916°W / 17.78694; -64.61916Coordinates: 17°47′13″N 64°37′09″W / 17.78694°N 64.61916°W / 17.78694; -64.61916
Area	880 acres (3.6 km²)
Established	December 28, 1961
Visitors	30,436 (in 2012)^[1]
Governing body	National Park Service
Website	Buck Island Reef National Monument

Buck Island Reef National Monument, or just Buck Island is a small, uninhabited, 176 acre (712,000 m²) island about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the northeast coast of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. It was first established as a protected area by the U.S. Government in 1948, with the intention of preserving “one of the finest marine gardens in the Caribbean Sea.” The U.S. National Monument was created in 1961 by John F. Kennedy and greatly expanded in 2001 by Bill Clinton, over the bitter opposition of local fishermen. Buck Island National Monument is one of few places in the Virgin Islands where endangered brown pelicans and threatened lest terns nest.

Buck Island Reef National Monument (Note that the photograph is taken from an unusual perspective. The beach is in fact to the west end of Buck Island and in this photograph north is facing downward).

Most of the Monument area, which is administered by the National Park Service, is underwater and attracts around 50,000 visitors a year. With its 4,554-acre (18.43 km²) long reef there is plenty to explore and experience in the water. Snorkelers can follow an underwater marked trail on the eastern tip. It is one of only three underwater trails in the United States. Along the trail are plaques denoting information about marine flora and fauna commonly found in the area. Two thirds of the island is surrounded by an elkhorn coral barrier reef, providing an ecosystem for over 250 fish species and a variety of other marine life including spotted eagle rays, nurse sharks and lemon sharks, and juvenile Blacktip reef sharks and Whitetip reef sharks. In the spring endangered Leatherback turtles come onto the beach to nest while Green turtles and Hawksbill turtles nest during the summer months. Turtle Beach on the western edge of the island features a pristine white sand beach and has been voted one of the world's most beautiful beaches by National Geographic.

The National Park Service has been monitoring Buck Island for over 40 years. Most of the research is focused on coral, fish, sea turtles, brown pelicans and least tern nesting. West beach is one of the most active turtle nesting beaches in the world with one the longest continually operating research programs.

The National Park Service requires all visitors to utilize Authorized Concessioners providing guided tours to ensure the ecosystem continues to thrive. To help protect this natural beauty visitors are encouraged to wear non-toxic reef safe sunscreen or a rash guard while swimming in the waters surrounding Buck Island Reef National Monument.

There are actually two Buck Islands in the Virgin Islands. The one just north of St. Croix is the centerpiece of the National Monument. Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge occupies the one near St. Thomas.

Gallery

Buck Island seen from the East
Turtle Beach at the western tip of the island
Buck Island and Sea Turtle
Hobie Cat on Buck Island
Buck Island from East End
Shoal of blue tangs
Stoplight parrotfish
End of the underwater marked trail

References

↑ "NPS Annual Recreation Visits Report". National Park Service. Retrieved November 18, 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Buck Island Reef National Monument.

Territory of United States Virgin Islands

Charlotte Amalie (capital)

Topics	Bibliography Demographics Economy Geography History Telecommunications Transportation Visitor attractions

Government	Congressional Delegates Elections Governors Politics Senators

Cities	Anna's Retreat Charlotte Amalie Charlotte Amalie West Christiansted Cruz Bay Frederiksted

Islands	Saint Croix Saint John Saint Thomas Water Island Other

Parks	Buck Island Reef NM Christiansted NHS Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve Virgin Islands Coral Reef NM Virgin Islands NP

Protected areas of the United States Virgin Islands

National Parks	Virgin Islands

National Historic Parks	Salt River Bay

National Historic Sites	Christiansted

National Monuments	Buck Island Reef Virgin Islands Coral Reef

National Wildlife Refuges	Caribbean Islands Buck Island Green Cay Sandy Point

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