Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge

Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge is located about 2 miles (4 km) south of the island of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands of the United States. Adjacent to the refuge is Capella Island, about half the size of Buck, owned by the territorial government. There is a second Buck Island just north of St. Croix that is the centerpiece of Buck Island Reef National Monument.

Not to be confused with Buck Island Reef National Monument.
Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map showing the location of Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge
Map showing the location of Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge
Map showing the location of Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge
Map showing the location of Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge
LocationVirgin Islands, United States
Nearest cityCharlotte Amalie, VI
Coordinates18.2757885°N 64.8870868°W / 18.2757885; -64.8870868[1]
Area45 acres (0.18 km²)
Established1969
Governing bodyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Original lighthouse
Constructed1913 Edit this on Wikidata
Constructionsteel (tower), concrete (foundation) Edit this on Wikidata
Height25 ft (7.6 m) Edit this on Wikidata
Shapesquare frustum tower with balcony and lantern[2][3]
Markingswhite (tower), black (lantern) Edit this on Wikidata
OperatorBuck Island National Wildlife Refuge Edit this on Wikidata
Deactivated1990s Edit this on Wikidata
Active lighthouse
Constructed1990s Edit this on Wikidata
Height12 m (39 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Shapesquare prism metal skeletal tower with balcony and light[4]
Markingsunpainted (tower) Edit this on Wikidata
Power sourcesolar power Edit this on Wikidata
Focal height42 m (138 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Range8 nmi (15 km; 9.2 mi) Edit this on Wikidata
CharacteristicFl W 4s Edit this on Wikidata

The refuge is characterized by a thorn scrub habitat with rocky coastline surrounded by spectacular reefs. A lighthouse (still maintained by the United States Coast Guard) stands over 45 acres (180,000 m2) of cactus and grassland. The island was transferred to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service due to "its value for migratory birds." The U.S. Navy transferred some lands in 1969 and the remainder was received from the Coast Guard in 1981. The surrounding waters contain reefs and a shipwreck that attract large numbers of snorkelers, divers, and boaters.

The islands are surrounded by beautiful coral reef habitats and an artificial reef – a shipwreck.[5] The marine area is home to a variety of fish and animals, in particular endangered sea turtles.

Turtle Cove, on the northwest side, is densely populated with sea turtles. Tours of Turtle Cove are available from St. John and St. Thomas.

Buck Island NWR is administered as part of the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife complex.

See also

References
  1. "Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  2. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the U.S. Virgin Islands". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2017-01-11.
  3. List of Lights, Pub. 110: Greenland, The East Coasts of North and South America (Excluding Continental U.S.A. Except the East Coast of Florida) and the West Indies (PDF). List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2016.
  4. List of Lights, Pub. 110: Greenland, The East Coasts of North and South America (Excluding Continental U.S.A. Except the East Coast of Florida) and the West Indies (PDF). List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2016.
  5. "The huge freighter Cartanza Senora is one of the most visited shipwrecks in Shipwreck Cove, Buck Island, St. Thomas". united-states-virgin-islands.greatestdivesites.com. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
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