Six thousand feet long and a half mile wide, uninhabited Buck Island rises to 340 feet above sea level 1.5 miles off the northeast side of the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Five miles from Christiansted, the 880 acre Buck Island Reef National Monument includes 176 acres of land and 704 of water and coral reef system. First protected in 1948, the area was proclaimed a national monument in 1961. Endangered species nesting here include the brown pelican, hawksbill, leatherback and green sea turtles. Buck Island is not volcanic in origin: its sedimentary rocks were uplifted by tectonic pressures. Two thirds of this largely tropical dry forest island are surrounded by an Elkhorn coral reef, which includes the Marine Garden area-closed to fishing and collecting activities. A snorkel trail with underwater interpretive signs lies off the island's east end. It meanders through coral grottoes out to the forereef. Resembling haystacks, Elkhorn coral patch reefs are scattered along the outside of the forereef and rise nearly to the water's surface from the seabed as much as 40 feet below. Snorkelers encounter colorful Parrotfish, French angelfish, and blue tangs. Concessionaires offer daily half and all-day tours to Buck Island from St. Croix for snorkeling and other activities.