About halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa lies Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge – a remote, tropical getaway. Palmyra Atoll consists of a circular string of about 50 islets nestled among several lagoons and encircled by 15,000 acres of shallow turquoise reefs and deep blue submerged reefs. The refuge’s lush vegetation supports over a million birds of 29 species – including the second largest red-footed booby colony in the world – and is the only nesting habitat for migratory seabirds and shorebirds within 450,000 square miles of ocean. Recreational diving and snorkeling programs offer visitors a chance to view the area’s colorful coral reef ecosystem, while hiking and kayaking tours give visitors the opportunity to see some of the refuge’s wildlife.

Top photo: Palmyra Atoll refuge wetlands by USFWS.

Middle photos (left to right): Strawn Island Lagoon by Laura M. Beauregard, USFWS. A Red-footed Booby at the refuge by Laura M. Beauregard, USFWS.

Bottom photo: Colorful coral reef ecosystem at Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Jim Maragos, USFWS.

About halfway between Hawai‘i and American Samoa lies Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. Palmyra consists of a circular string of about 50 islets nestled among several lagoons and encircled by 15,000 acres of shallow turquoise reefs and deep blue submerged reefs. It is the northernmost atoll in the Line Islands in the equatorial Pacific.

Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service