Overview:

Pelican Island National Park is a small protected area located off the coast of Southwestern Antigua, in the Caribbean Sea. It has no permanent inhabitants and is described as deserted. The park was established in 1991, and protects a range of habitats, including seagrass meadows, coral reefs, nesting bird colonies and offshore islets. It's a popular spot for recreational activities such as snorkelling, swimming and kayaking. The area is accessible by boat from many of Antigua's beaches, with the closest located at Darkwood Beach. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Antigua-and-Barbuda
Prominent Features:

1. Islet Habitat: The island is a combination of islets, swamps, lagoons, wetlands, and salt ponds. This makes it an ideal habitat for hundreds of species of birds, reptiles, and fish. 2. White Pelicans: The island is home to hundreds of white pelicans, and it is the only national park in the Caribbean specifically designated to protect them. 3. Snowy Plover: The island’s protected beaches are a nesting ground for the endangered snowy plover, making it a critical place of refuge for this vulnerable species. 4. Mangroves and Sea Turtles: The island is also home to extensive areas of mangroves which provide shelter and breeding grounds for sea turtles. 5. World War II Bunkers: Formerly a British army base, the park still contains bunkers built during World War II. These now provide a fascinating insight into an important historical period. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Antigua-and-Barbuda.

History:

Pelican Island National Park in Antigua-and-Barbuda was established in 1978 and is the country’s first national park. The park was created to protect the island’s sensitive habitats and species, which include frigate birds, common terns, laughing gulls, and spectacular Caribbean reef sharks. Pelican Island National Park covers an area of 17 hectares, and is composed of two main habitats, a rocky-sandy shoreline and a low-lying mangrove swampland. The park is home to an abundance of seabirds that nest in the mangroves, making it an ideal place for birdwatching. It is also a popular destination for fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving, which offer an opportunity to witness the diversity and abundance of marine life in the region. The park is also dedicated to protecting the nesting grounds of the endangered Leatherback turtle, as well as planning and managing the conservation of the mangroves, which are important to the continued survival and well-being of Antigua-sponsored wildlife. Visit one of the famous monuments of Antigua-and-Barbuda with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. Pelican Island National Park is the oldest and smallest national park in the United States, established in 1903. 2. Located just off the coast of Antigua, the park is home to a variety of marine life including fish, corals, crustaceans, mollusks, sea turtles, waterfowl, and other birds. 3. The island is a nesting site and breeding ground for brown pelicans, the state bird of Florida. 4. It is also an important stopover for migratory shorebirds along the Atlantic Flyway, which follows along the coasts of the southeastern U.S. and Caribbean. 5. The area is protected by the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge Act of 1951, which restricts development on the island and ensures its protection. 6. Almost half of the island is mangrove swamp, which provides nesting and feeding areas for a variety of shorebirds and other wildlife. 7. The island contains four marine-protected areas, and is managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the Department of the Interior. One of the historical monuments of Antigua-and-Barbuda, it tells the story of a bygone era