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

palette

Today in History

A painters palette of natures hues
A rocky wrinkle in time
2 Aug 2025Cowes Week
2 Aug 2026Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland

More Desktop Wallpapers:

30 Jan 2024Aýna, Albacete, Spain
28 Mar 2024Cherry blossoms in Shanghai, China
4 Aug 2026International Owl Awareness Day
10 May 2026Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada
1 May 2024Lei Day
30 Nov 2023Leadenhall Market, London
25 Dec 2024Merry Christmas!
23 Apr 2025Saint Georges Day
29 Mar 2024South Stack Lighthouse, Holyhead, Wales
23 Nov 2023Teide National Park, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
‘Night shining’ clouds
31 Jul 2025Kalalau Beach on the Nā Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii, United States
Sep 11, 2023Patriot Day
5 Dec 2023Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles, Bavaria, Germany
11 May 2024World Migratory Bird Day
World Rivers Day
20 Sep 2025Oktoberfest begins!
11 May 2026Great Barrier Reef from above, Queensland, Australia
Masterpiece of acoustic engineering
9 Aug 2025International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
Big Bends birthday bash
14 Oct 2024Coco Beach, Goa, India
26 Sep 2025Least chipmunk, Kootenai National Forest, Montana, United States
28 Feb 2026Oloupena Falls, island of Molokai, Hawaii, United States
Babbling on and on
In a world of their own
Home of the worst-smelling food?
24 Nov 2023Green Friday
1 Jun 2025World Reef Awareness Day
Living in harmony