USA ~ Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument - UNESCO ~

... Nice view of the Midway Atoll one of the most isolated places on the planet... this Marine National Monument is one of the largest contiguous fully protected conservation area under the U.S. flag, and one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world... a massive, isolated area in the Pacific Ocean that encompasses around 1.5 million km2 of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands larger than all the country's national parks combined... this huge stretch of coral islands, seamounts, banks and shoals supports an incredible diversity of coral, fish, birds, marine mammals and other flora and fauna, many of which are unique to the Hawaiian Island chain.... it is also of great importance to Native Hawaiians as the place where it is believed that life originates from and to where the spirits return after death...Thanks Elena!ツ

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument was first created in 2006 with an initial 360,000 km2.  A year later, it was given its Hawaiian name, Papahānaumokuākea. President Barack Obama expanded the Monument in 2016, increasing its area more than fourfold by moving its border to the limit of the exclusive economic zone.

Midway Atoll (Kuaihelani) is continuously occupied since a telegraph station was built there in the early 1900's, Midway is most famous for being a US Navy base during World War II and site of the Battle of Midway in 1942, largely considered a major turning point in the war with Japan. It is now a National Wildlife Refuge and part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

In 2010, Papahānaumokuākea was inscribed as a mixed (natural and cultural) World Heritage Site. It is the first mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site in the US.

 

Stamps:

Endangered Species 

19-05-2023)

The 150th Anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard 

(issued 12-09-2026)