Papahānaumokuākea: America's Largest Conservation Area Is in the Middle of the Pacific

The largest conservation area in the United States is not on land. It is Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean — larger than all of America's national parks combined, and one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world.

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, larger than all of America's national parks combined. Credit: NOAA.

What it protects

The monument preserves many of Hawaii's Northwestern Islands across a vast region of reefs, atolls, shallow waters and deep seas. Its habitats are critically important: they shelter over 7,000 marine species, several of which live nowhere else. It is also home to rare and endangered animals such as the green sea turtle and the Hawaiian monk seal.

Part of a larger system

Papahānaumokuākea is one of a growing number of marine protected areas in NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary system. The system's goal is to conserve, protect and enhance the biodiversity, ecological integrity and cultural legacy of these places.

Sources

Based on "Where is the largest protected area in the National Marine Sanctuary system?" from NOAA's National Ocean Service, a work of the United States government in the public domain.