Virgin Islands National Park

From Freepedia

Virgin Islands
Image:Locator Map Virgin Islands NP.PNG
Designation	National Park
Location	Virgin Islands, USA
Nearest City	Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands
Coordinates	18°20′ N 64°44′ W
Area	14,689 acres (59 km²) 5,900 ha
Date of Establishment	August 2, 1956
Visitation	800,931 (2003)
Governing Body	National Park Service
IUCN category	II National Park

Established in 1980, Virgin Islands National Park is a United States National Park covering approximately 60% of the island of Saint John in the U.S. 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, St. John, near the park, which averages 725,000 visitors per year.

One of Virgin Island National Park's most famous attraction 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 St. 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.

The Virgin Islands National Park also includes Hassel Island.

Image:Virgin Islands National Park Overlook.jpg

Image:Virgin Islands National Park Reef Bay.jpg

External links

Official NPS site
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
Virgin Islands National Park - National Parks Gallery

Image:Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg	Territory of the Virgin Islands of the United States Geography \| Economy \| Demographics \| Communications \| Transportation
Government:	Politics \| Governors \| Congressional Delegates \| Senators \| Elections
Capital:	Charlotte Amalie
Small Cities:	Charlotte Amalie \| Christiansted \| Frederisksted \| Cruz Bay
Islands:	Saint Croix \| Saint John \| Saint Thomas \| Water Island \| Other