Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument

Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Location	Virgin Islands, United States
Nearest city	St John, VI
Coordinates	18°18′22″N 64°43′37″W / 18.30611°N 64.72694°W / 18.30611; -64.72694Coordinates: 18°18′22″N 64°43′37″W / 18.30611°N 64.72694°W / 18.30611; -64.72694
Area	12,708 acres (5,143 ha)[1]
Authorized	January 17, 2001 (2001-January-17)
Governing body	National Park Service

The Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located off Saint John, Virgin Islands.

The clear waters surrounding Saint John support a diverse and complex system of coral reefs. The health of these reefs is closely tied to its component plants and animals as well as adjacent non-coral marine environments such as sandy bottoms, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests.

Seeking to provide greater protection to the sensitive coral reef resources, President Clinton established the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument on January 17, 2001. The monument includes 12,708 acres (51 km²) of federal submerged lands within the 3 mile (5 km) belt off Saint John, including Hurricane Hole and areas north and south of Saint John.

Ecosystem

Hurricane Hole, the only coastal part of the National Monument

The coral reefs of the U.S. Virgin Islands suffered severely from coral bleaching in 2005, which led to a 60% decline in coral activity. The USGS began extensive research in the area and scientists discovered previously unknown coral ecosystems at the submerged stems of mangrove trees in the Hurricane Hole area of the National Monument. They found about 30 of the 45 coral species in the Virgin Islands, which is an astonishing diversity for the small area, and were surprised by the number of sponge species as well. This is the first known occurrence of corals in a mangrove ecosystem.^[2]

See also

• Virgin Islands National Park

External links

• Official NPS website: Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument

References

1. ↑ "Listing of acreage as of December 31, 2011". Land Resource Division, National Park Service. Retrieved 2012-05-14. 
2. ↑ Ann B. Tihansky, Caroline S. Rogers: Discovering the Secret Gardens in the Mangroves of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. In: Sound Waves, April 2010, USGS

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