Heaven and Earth
by Christopher James
Title
Heaven and Earth
Artist
Christopher James
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Buck Island Reef National Monument is a small, uninhabited, 176 acre (712,000 m) 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.
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.
Unlike the BVI, the US has established National parks throughout the US Virgin Islands and is maintained by the park service.
Honorable mention in the Less is More group contest
Uploaded
July 13th, 2015
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Viewed 5,667 Times - Last Visitor from Houston, TX on 03/28/2024 at 9:44 AM
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Comments (273)
Sarah Irland
A wonderful photograph of this beautiful day on the water, Christopher! And a great description about this beautiful National Park. L/F
Julie Weber
Great title and beautifully composed. Such a wonderful variety of blues. Wonderful to have captured such a magnificent cloud formation. L
Robyn King
Congratulations Christopher your amazing artwork is being featured in Over 5000 Views:-) Please take a moment to add your beautiful art to our archives in the message area and have a wonderful day!