Nature
Buck Island Reef National Monument protects a marine ecosystem off St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, centered on a small uninhabited island but defined mainly by the surrounding sea. First protected in 1948, it became a national monument in 1961 and was greatly expanded in 2001. Its reef system includes a marked underwater trail and extensive coral habitat supporting more than 250 fish species, rays, and several sharks. The island and nearby waters also provide important nesting habitat for seabirds and sea turtles, including endangered leatherbacks. Managed by the National Park Service, it is both a tightly protected reserve and a major visitor destination.
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