Virgin Islands National Park, USA 2 Aug 2024

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

palette

Today in History

A painters palette of natures hues
A rocky wrinkle in time
2 Aug 2025Cowes Week

More Desktop Wallpapers:

14 Nov 2024Manarola, Cinque Terre National Park, Liguria, Italy
The glowing winter
Perfect, pastoral Palouse
8 Feb 2024Mount Hood, Oregon, USA
15 Jun 2025Happy Fathers Day!
Mountains of sand
24 Apr 2025Spire Cove in Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska, United States
25 Jan 2025Celebrating Robert Burns OR Burns Night
21 Jul 2025The summer opening of Buckingham Palace
May the 4th be with you
1 Nov 2025Peña Roya beech forest, Moncayo Natural Park, Aragon, Spain
12 Jul 2024Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA
Protecting the gentle giants
28 Jun 2024Stonewall uprising anniversary
26 Nov 2024Celebrating World Olive Tree Day
This lake is no mirage
Centuries of time in a Delicate Arch
27 Jan 2024Saint Paul Winter Carnival
8 Jul 2024Blueberries growing in the wild
Sep 11, 2023Patriot Day
23 Mar 2025World Meteorological Day
Alps of the sea
14 Jan 2025Village of Zahara de la Sierra, Cadiz, Spain
16 Nov 2025A traboule in Lyon, France
Gem of the Côte dAzur
13 Feb 2024Pancake Day
5 Nov 2024Guy Fawkes Night
30 Sep 2024Walruses in Svalbard, Norway
The Riviera of India
23 Jan 2024Maldives