In this national park, humans and nature interact respectfully. While wilderness was the foundation of American culture, it has since taken on many new connotations. Wilderness is supposed to be a place where no person remains, yet people constantly search for answers in the wilderness. People believe wilderness provides them with spiritual guidance and new beginnings. However, if it is a place where no man remains, it can do none of those things. People interact with nature every day, be it a tree in a city park or a national park. However, we have constructed wilderness so that it must be isolated from people and fit certain criteria. Furthermore, we then change the wilderness to make it what we want. This distracts from the fact that nature is all around us. We fail to appreciate the nature we see every day when we focus on the few places that fit the definition of wilderness. We should be focusing on interacting respectfully with all nature, not just saving the nature we believe is worthy.
Sincerely,
Virgin Islands National Park
Idyllic white-sand beaches and crystal clear seas draw many visitors to Virgin Islands National Park each year–and what waits underwater is just as breathtaking. The park includes 5,650 acres of land beneath the ocean, including fragile coral gardens, beautiful seascapes, and resplendent ocean life.
State(s): Virgin Islands
Established: 1956
National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!
Success! Thanks for sharing your story with us.
You’ll be notified by email when your story is approved and added to the collection on the My Park Story homepage.
In the meantime, you can share your own story page with your family and friends — and help us spread the word about these priceless memories and priceless places!
Here’s your unique story page link:
{{ storyUrl }}Preserve Our Parks
Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.
Donate Now