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As stated, the coral reefs such as fringing reefs, deep reefs, patch reefs and spur and groove formation are distributed over three islands in the Virgin Islands which are St. Croix (Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, Buck Island Reef National Monument), St. Thomas, and St. John (Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument).
The Virgin Islands Patch Reefs are numerous, small subtropical coral reef ecoregions. These reefs are located on all three islands: St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Croix. Of the three islands, St. Croix has an established barrier reef. It is approximately 20 meters deep and covers 485 sq km ( 187.26 sq mi). [1]
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.
STXEEMP includes one of the most extensive, contiguous coral reef systems on the Puerto Rican/Virgin Islands shelf. [4] The St Croix East End Marine Park encompasses an area of approximately 60 square miles (155 sq. km) along a shoreline of approximately 17 miles (27 km), from Green Cay on the north shore to Great Pond Bay on the south.
Buck Island Reef National Monument protects Buck Island, a small, uninhabited 176-acre (712,000 m²) island about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the northeast coast of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, and 18,839 acres of submerged lands, totaling 19,015 acres. [2]
Oil Nut Bay is a coral reef bay, which is described as "headland attached linear reef". [2] The beach at Oil Nut Bay stretches for about 0.5 miles (0.80 km). [3] The coastline extends to Leverick Bay, along a stretch which is characterised by its mangroves. [1]
Waterlemon Cay is a small cay surrounded by a fringing reef located in Leinster Bay on Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands.It is named after the water lemon.. The cay is surrounded by a fringing reef, and is considered to be one of the best snorkeling spots on the island. [1]
Tourists frequent the numerous white sand beaches, visit The Baths on Virgin Gorda, snorkel the coral reefs near Anegada, or experience the well-known bars of Jost Van Dyke. The BVI are known as one of the world's greatest sailing destinations, and charter sailboats are a very popular way to visit less accessible islands.