Shrimp boats and sunflowers at Conn Brown Harbor

Shrimp boats viewed over old barnacle-encrusted pilings at Conn Brown Harbor

Vegetation-covered dunes on the west side of Padre Island

Approaching the JFK Causeway connecting Corpus Christi with Padre Island

Part of Cayo del Oso Creek which empties into Corpus Christi Bay

Vegetation-covered dunes on the west side of Padre Island

A resort area on the west side of Padre Island

Shrimp boats tied up just south of the JFK Causeway

A shrimp boat headed north along the Intracoastal Waterway passing under the JFK Causeway

A shrimp boat headed north along the Intracoastal Waterway passing under the JFK Causeway

A fish cleaning expert awaits the next load of fish to land at the Dolphin Docks

Holding a soft-shell "peeler" crab (female)

Holding a soft-shell "peeler" crab (female)

A "peeler" crab (female). It will shed its shell within an hour.

Fishing and pleasure boats at Hull Bay

Fishing and pleasure boats at Hull Bay

View of Fortuna Bay on approach to Cyril E. King Airport

View of Fortuna Bay on approach to Cyril E. King Airport

Looking across Pillsbury Sound to Thatch Cay

A quiet bay off St. Thomas

Westend Road overlook of Fortuna Bay

View to the south from Westend Road

A view of Salt River Bay, where Columbus landed and was attacked by native Americans. This is a National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve.

A view of Salt River Bay, where Columbus landed and was attacked by native Americans. This is a National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve.

The Government House at Christiansted, under repair from hurricane damage.

The old Danish Customs House in downtown Christiansted, now maintained by the National Park Service.

The old Danish Customs House in downtown Christiansted, now maintained by the National Park Service.

A Danish windwill ruin at sunset on the northeast end of St. Croix. Buck Island Reef National Monument is in the background.

A Danish windwill ruin at sunset on the northeast end of St. Croix. Buck Island Reef National Monument is in the background.

View from Danish windmill ruin of Buck Island Reef National Monument.

Point Udall Millennium Monument. A sundial was erected here, the easternmost point of United States Territory to commemorate the coming of the new millennium . The marker represents "a continuum between all who have come before and all who are yet to come."

Sunrise at the Point Udall Millennium Monument. Here the new day begins for the United States in the Western Hemisphere. The marker represents "a continuum between all who have come before and all who are yet to come."

Sunrise at the Point Udall Millennium Monument. Here the new day begins for the United States in the Western Hemisphere. The marker represents "a continuum between all who have come before and all who are yet to come."

The Virgin Islands - tropical or desert? Cactus on the north side of St. Croix looking toward Buck Island Reef National Monument.

The Virgin Islands - tropical or desert? Shallow stream and rainforest on the west end of St. Croix.

View of Buck Island Reef National Monument from Chenay Bay on Green Cay.

Looking ENE from Chenay Bay Beach towards Green Cay to left and Buck Island to right.

Green Cay from Chenay Bay.

Strange wave refraction pattern apparent in aerial photograph as swells encounter large merchant vessel

Aerial view of patterns in a coral reef.

Aerial view of patterns in a coral reef.

Aerial view of patterns in a coral reef.

Aerial view of patterns in a coral reef.

Tropical popcorn cumulus at sunset.

Buck Island Reef National Monument - a jewel in a tropical sea.

Buck Island Reef National Monument - a jewel in a tropical sea.

Buck Island Reef National Monument - a jewel in a tropical sea.

Aerial view of Udall Point at the east end of St. Croix.

Aerial view of west side of Salt River Bay.

Aerial view of Salt River Bay.