| Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
  Location in the U.S. Virgin Islands Show map of the U.S. Virgin Islands Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument (Caribbean) Show map of Caribbean | |
| Location | Virgin Islands,United States |
| Nearest city | St John, VI |
| Coordinates | 18°18′22″N64°43′37″W / 18.30611°N 64.72694°W /18.30611; -64.72694 |
| Area | 12,708 acres (51.43 km2)[1] |
| Authorized | January 17, 2001 (2001-01-17) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument |
TheVirgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument is aU.S. National Monument located offSaint John,Virgin Islands.
The clear waters surrounding Saint John support a diverse and complex system ofcoral 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, andmangrove 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.
The coral reefs of the U.S. Virgin Islands suffered severely fromcoral bleaching in 2005, which led to a 60% decline in coral activity. TheUSGS began extensive research in the area and scientists discovered previously unknown coral ecosystems at the submerged stems ofmangrove trees in theHurricane 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 ofsponge species as well. This is the first known occurrence of corals in a mangrove ecosystem.[2]
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