Virgin Islands National Park, USA 2 Aug 2024

Virgin Islands National Park, USA

In 1956, businessman and conservationist Laurance Rockefeller saw the beauty of Saint John, one of the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, and knew it had to be preserved. Fast forward to today, and we"re marking the 68th anniversary of the creation of the Virgin Islands National Park. Covering about 60% of the island and 5,650 acres (2,286 hectares) of submerged lands, this park is a living example of preservation—thanks to Rockefeller, who donated over 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares) of his land to the US government. Even after the devastation of hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, the park bounced back stronger than ever, welcoming over 100,000 visitors in 2018.

© cdwheatley/Getty Images

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