Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, Central Pacific Ocean
© Ian Shive/Tandem Stills + Motio
Idyllic island escape. Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Set sail for the Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, pictured here. Created in 2001, this sanctuary is situated midway between the Hawaiian Islands and American Samoa. Spanning across a coral canvas, this refuge boasts a diverse ecosystem. Enveloped by an expansive barrier reef, you can explore three shallow lagoons and numerous islets. But wait, there's more. The lush greenery here is a bustling neighbourhood that's home to more than a million birds from 29 different species, like the masked booby, great frigatebird and sooty tern. It's also one of the few places outside the Galápagos Islands where red-footed boobies are found. A wide variety of marine wildlife is in and around the atoll, including green sea turtles, hawksbill turtles and the mighty coconut crab, the world's largest land invertebrate.
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