Clarisse Buma Director , St Eustatius National Parks Foundation

The park ’ s focus is on three species : hawksbill turtle , green and leatherback turtle of which the leatherback is the most rare . Last summer , working with researchers from Groningen University , thirty six sea turtles were tagged in Statian waters . Some of them received a transmitter . http :// penyu . nl / 2016 / 08 / 25 / 36-turtles-tagged-in-steustatius /

Visitors to the park can go diving or snorkeling . The coral reefs have developed on a range of volcanic substrates , including bombs , lava blocks and solidified lava flows shaped like fingers . The marine park is in the top five dive destinations in the Caribbean in terms

of healthy coral reefs and fish populations . Living amongst the reefs are a host of tropical reef creatures including angelfish , butterfly fish , flying gurnard , sea horses , lobster , sharks , rays and sea turtles . Two divecenters – Scubaqua and Golden Rock bring tourists by boat to the divesites . You are not allowed to dive on your own . You will have to go through a divecenter .

For tourists who love hiking , there is an excellent opportunity to hike the Quill , a dormant volcano and one of the two national terrestrial parks . The Quill dominates Statia ’ s landscape . The last eruption dates from around 400AD . A number of different vegetation zones vary with altitude , ranging from evergreen seasonal forest inside the crater to elfin forest on the rim . You are allowed to go into the forest inside of the crater . It is closely related to the rainforest with the highest tree ranging to 40 metres . Animals to watch out for are the endangered iguana delicatissima and the non-poisonous red bellied racer snake .

The other national terrestrial park is The Northern Hills with more dry vegetation and cactae and from Gilboa ridge 1 and 2 you have a beautiful view over the island .

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