Virgin Islands National Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Virgin Islands National Park | |
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| IUCN Category II (National Park) | |
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| Location: | United States Virgin Islands |
| Nearest city: | Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 14,689 acres (59 km²) |
| Established: | August 2, 1956 |
| Total Visitation: | 803,040 (in 2005) |
| Governing body: | National Park Service |
Virgin Islands National Park is a United States National Park covering approximately 60% of the island of Saint John in the United States Virgin Islands. The park is famous for scuba diving and snorkeling and has miles of hiking trails through tropical forests.
Ferries from Red Hook and Charlotte Amalie on Saint Thomas make regular stops at Cruz Bay, Saint John, near the park, which averages 725,000 visitors per year.
One of the Virgin Islands National Park's most famous attractions is Trunk Bay which sports a white sand beach and underwater snorkeling trail.
Plan accordingly and you'll be able to traverse the likes of the sugar-plantation-ruins-littered Cinnamon Bay Nature Trail and the Bourdeaux Mountain Trail that leads to the highest point on the island at 1,277 feet above sea level and whose view is best described as "what you must see from heaven." The most popular hike however is the Reef Bay Trail. This route paves the way to witnessing the beauty of the surrounding forestlands, remnants of sugar mills, historical petroglyph rock carvings, a spring-fed waterfall and reflection pool, and a chance for rest and relaxation or snorkeling excitement at Genti Bay.
Visitors can stay on Saint John nearby but off park land, or they may elect to stay in one of park's two campgrounds, Maho Bay and Cinnamon Bay, which offer varying levels of comfort.
Virgin Islands National Park also includes Hassel Island, just off Charlotte Amalie harbor, as well as a few isolated sites on the island of St. Thomas.
Basic facts Each year, about 700,000 people visit the park. Virgin Islands National Park is spread out on 14,689 acres of land! It became the 29th U.S. national park in 1956, when Laurence Rockefeller visited the area and thought the land was incredibly beautiful. The fee to enter the park is free if you are 16 & under, adult admission is $4. The park covers almost 60% of St. John Island, and a little bit of Hassel Island as well.
Features The main features of the Virgin Islands National Park are the coral reefs and oceans. They almost completely surround the park. The coral reefs are changing rapidly, because new coral species are replacing the old ones. For example, in 2006, the Elkhorn and Slaghorn coral were introduced to the Virgin Islands. Another important feature of the Virgin Islands are the tropical forests. The tropical forests hold most of the parks plants and wildlife. The plants and wildlife are what the Virgin Islands Park is famous for. Bats are the only mammal native to the island. Wild donkeys and crabs are other very common species.
Climate The climate conditions at the Virgin Islands National Park are subtropical. The average rainfall per year is 55 inches. In the winter, trade winds blow from 11 to 21 knots. The average temperature for the park is 79 degrees Fahrenheit. At the Virgin Islands, the dominant plant species are dry tropical forest plants.
When to visit The best time to visit the Virgin Island National Park would be December through April when the weather is nice, and the ocean temperature is warm. When you pack your bags, make sure to bring some sunscreen, bathing suit, sunglasses, and shorts. It can get pretty hot! Camping is available to the park, as well as lodging.
[edit] External links
- Official NPS website: Virgin Islands National Park
- PDF map from NPS PDF map from NPS
- geology of Virgin Islands National Park
- Virgin Islands National Park (fan site)
- Photos of Virgin Islands National Park - Terra Galleria
- VINP Intern Archeology blog
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