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'''Virgin Islands National Park''' is a [[United States]] [[national park|National Park]] covering approximately 60% of the island of [[Saint John, United States Virgin Islands|Saint John]] in the [[United States Virgin Islands]], plus a few isolated sites on the neighboring island of [[Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands|St. Thomas]]. The park is famous for [[scuba diving]] and snorkeling and has miles of hiking trails through tropical forests. |
'''Virgin Islands National Park''' is a [[United States]] [[national park|National Park]] covering approximately 60% of all virgins in the US. It all covers abotu 60% of the island of [[Saint John, United States Virgin Islands|Saint John]] in the [[United States Virgin Islands]], plus a few isolated sites on the neighboring island of [[Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands|St. Thomas]]. The park is famous for [[scuba diving]] and snorkeling and has miles of hiking trails through tropical forests. |
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Ferries from Red Hook and [[Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands|Charlotte Amalie]] on [[Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands|Saint Thomas]] make regular stops at [[Cruz Bay]], Saint John, near the park, which averages 725,000 visitors per year. |
Ferries from Red Hook and [[Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands|Charlotte Amalie]] on [[Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands|Saint Thomas]] make regular stops at [[Cruz Bay]], Saint John, near the park, which averages 725,000 visitors per year. |
Revision as of 15:41, 29 November 2011
Virgin Islands National Park | |
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Location | United States Virgin Islands |
Nearest city | Charlotte Amalie |
Area | 14,689 acres (59 km²) |
Established | August 2, 1956 |
Visitors | 677,289 (in 2006) |
Governing body | National Park Service |
Virgin Islands National Park is a United States National Park covering approximately 60% of all virgins in the US. It all covers abotu 60% of the island of Saint John in the United States Virgin Islands, plus a few isolated sites on the neighboring island of St. Thomas. 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, although the trail's chronic overuse has led to extensive coral bleaching along its path.
The park includes 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 (389 m) 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 Taíno petroglyph rock carvings[1], 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 the park's two campgrounds, Maho Bay and Cinnamon Bay, which offer varying levels of comfort. The park is free of hotels and resort, with a notable exception, the Caneel Bay resort on the north shore, which lies on Rockefeller’s former personal estate.
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 (59 km2) 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 park is free to enter and the only fee is to enter Trunk Beach and is $4 for adults. The park covers almost 60% of St. John Island, and a small portion 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. As new coral species replace older ones, the coral reefs are experiencing rapid change. 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 park's 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 (1,400 mm). In the winter, trade winds blow from 11 to 21 knots (39 km/h). The average temperature for the park is 79 °F (26 °C). At the Virgin Islands, the dominant plant species are dry tropical forest plants.
When to visit
There is very little temperature difference between summer and winter and the sea is warm year round. Because of the park's typically hot weather a park visitor is recommended to bring sunscreen, a bathing suit, sunglasses, and shorts. The tourist season is from December to April and outside of those months prices for accommodation drop considerably. Camping is available in the park, as well as lodging.
Trunk Bay
Trunk Bay is a body of water and a beach on St. John in the United States Virgin Islands. It has consistently been voted one of the Ten Best Beaches in The World by Condé Nast Traveler magazine and has received similar recognition from other publications.[2] Also the National Geographic Society has labeled Trunk Bay as the most beautiful beach in the world.[citation needed] It is one of the most popular beaches on the island whose amenities include a snack bar, showers and restrooms, lifeguards, and, most famously, an underwater trail for snorkeling its coral reef.[2] Trunk Bay is the only National Park beach on St. John which requires a fee to visit, though this can be avoided by arriving early in the day, late into the evening.
Gallery
Gallery
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Trunk Bay
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Trunk Bay
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Sunbathing and snorkeling at Trunk Bay
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Sunset at Trunk Bay
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Centerline Road overlook looking northward.
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Reef Bay and VINP as seen from Cocoloba Point.
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Turtle Bay Beach
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Scott Beach
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Caneel Beach
References
- ^ http://www.seestjohn.com/trails_petroglyphs.html
- ^ a b "Places to Go". Retrieved 7 March 2011.
External links
- Official NPS website: Virgin Islands National Park
- PDF map from NPS PDF map from NPS
- NPS page about geology of Virgin Islands National Park