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Buck Island Reef National Monument
National Monument |
It’s located on a small island near St. Croix, Virgin Islands |
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| Buck Island Reef National Monument is a great family vacation for fun in the sun water adventures. Snorkeling seems to be the biggest outdoor adventure for watching the beautiful coral reefs, reef fishes, and sea fans. But you can also go swimming, boating, hiking, and ride on a glass bottom boat. It’s a good national monument for bird watching and enjoying the native flora. Check out below for great Buck Island Reef National Monument information.
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| Park Navigator Preview |
Uniqueness - Buck Island Reef National Monument was established by Presidential proclamation in 1961, and expanded in 2001, in order to preserve "one of the finest marine gardens in the Caribbean Sea." The park is... (click here for more)
Park and Visitor Center Hours - Buck Island Reef National Monument is open year-round. The Scale House Visitor Center is along the waterfront near the Fort in Christiansted and is open all year 8 am to 4:30 pm. It is closed on Chris... (click here for more)
History & Statistics - The first people to set foot on buck Island were probably Saladoid, Ostionoid, and/or Taino peoples who used the island as a temporary camp while fishing, hunting manatees and sea turtles, and gatheri... (click here for more)
Natural Features - Buck Island, located 1.5 miles north of St. Croix, is made of sedimentary rock layers deposited in deep water approximately 60 million years ago. Tectonic plate movements pushed these layers eastward,... (click here for more)
Flora - The vegetative appearance of Buck Island has changed drastically due to clear-cutting in the 1760’s, to obtain lignumvitae and other tropical hardwoods for export, and due to the introduction of plant... (click here for more)
Activities in the Park - There are concession boats that will take you around the island park. All concession boats to Buck Island Reef NM are able to assist disabled visitors. Buck Island Reef has a concrete pier on the sout... (click here for more)
Environmental Impact - Worldwide, coral reefs are fast disappearing. They are slow-growing and vulnerable to pollution, sedimentation, over fishing, warming of the seas, and boat damage. Because corals thrive only in a narr... (click here for more)
Weather - Temperatures range in the low 70s to upper 80s, December through April, and are slightly higher (mid 80s to mid 90s), May through November. Usually there is more rainfall July through January, while s... (click here for more)
Rules, Regulations and Safety - Light weight clothing for hot temperatures is suggested. Long sleeves, pants, sturdy shoes, and bug repellant are recommended for hiking. Visitors should take necessary precautions to avoid sunburn. A... (click here for more)
Wildlife - The Virgin Islands provide critical nesting, foraging, and developmental habitat for three species of sea turtle, the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacae) and hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) b... (click here for more)
Wildlife Warnings - Do not feed or harass the wildlife. All animals in the park are protected. Remember the animals are wild and need to stay that way. Beware of centipedes, scorpions, and fire-ants.... (click here for more)
Fees - There is no entry fee for Buck Island Reef National Monument. However visitors will pay a fee to official park concessionaires for boat access to the park.... (click here for more)
Camping - There is no overnight camping on the island; the park is closed from sunset to sunrise.... (click here for more)
Nearby Attractions - Virgin Islands National Park, St.John is approxiamately 40 miles north of St.Croix. Christiansted National Historic Site is 5.5 miles away. Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserv... (click here for more)
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