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Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve

Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve.

On November 14, 1493, on his second voyage to the New World, Columbus came upon the island which the dominant Carib people called Cibuquiera ("the stony land"). He named it Santa Cruz or "Holy Cross". The fleet of 17 vessels (including the Niña, veteran of the first voyage) dropped anchor off the Salt River inlet, now in the US Virgin Islands. The admiral sent more than two dozen armed men ashore in his longboat to explore the native village on the west bank and search for sources of fresh water. This location is the first and only positively documented of two sites associated with Columbus on what is now U.S. territory. On a return to the flagship, having "liberated" some Taino women and boys enslaved by the Caribs at the village, the boat's crew encountered a canoe with Caribs (four males and two females) and one or two male Taino slaves, which had rounded the eastern cape of the bay. The Caribs readied their bows when the Spaniards approached too closely. The canoe was rammed and overturned, and a fierce but unequal skirmish ensued.

Man scuba diving at Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve.

This hostile encounter, the first documented resistance to European encroachment by Native Americans, resulted in a fatality on each side. Columbus himself later named the site of the encounter Cabo de las Flechas or "Cape of the Arrows", in memory of the Spanish fatality.

From St. Croix, Columbus' fleet first sailed northward and then west southwestward to San Juan Bautista (later renamed Puerto Rico).

Today, visitors to the park can learn about five centuries of history, as well as snorkeling, diving, swimming and hiking.

Did you know?

The only Tainan ceremonial ball court or plaza found in the Lesser Antilles is at Salt Bay River. Both ceremonial and recreational, the ball game originated in Mesoamerica. The ball court was excavated by a Danish archaeologist, Gudmund Hatt in 1923.
The 350 foot submarine canyon at the entrance to Salt River Bay, with its diversity of deep water coral and unique geologic features (such as caverns, grottoes, ledges, and caves) is one of few such features found worldwide.

Learn more/get involved:

Use Fewer Plastic Products. Plastics that end up in the ocean as marine debris contribute to habitat destruction and entangle and kill many marine animals. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle! Buy products with less packaging. Use reusable water bottles and cloth grocery bags. Recycle whenever possible. Don't release helium balloons outside because once they end up in the ocean, they harm animals that mistake them for food. Cut open plastic six-pack rings because they can entangle ocean life. For more information, visit: http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/
Dispose of Household & Hazardous Materials Properly: Motor oil, anti-freeze and other hazardous materials harm our oceans when they aren't disposed of properly. Dispose of hazardous waste in an environmentally safe way. Fix car leaks and recycle motor oil. Don't flush pharmaceuticals, non-degradable products or cleaning products with bleach or phosphates down the drain. For more information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/osw/

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Error processing SSI file	About Marine Protected Areas > About MPAs > MPA Stories > Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve. On November 14, 1493, on his second voyage to the New World, Columbus came upon the island which the dominant Carib people called Cibuquiera ("the stony land"). He named it Santa Cruz or "Holy Cross". The fleet of 17 vessels (including the Niña, veteran of the first voyage) dropped anchor off the Salt River inlet, now in the US Virgin Islands. The admiral sent more than two dozen armed men ashore in his longboat to explore the native village on the west bank and search for sources of fresh water. This location is the first and only positively documented of two sites associated with Columbus on what is now U.S. territory. On a return to the flagship, having "liberated" some Taino women and boys enslaved by the Caribs at the village, the boat's crew encountered a canoe with Caribs (four males and two females) and one or two male Taino slaves, which had rounded the eastern cape of the bay. The Caribs readied their bows when the Spaniards approached too closely. The canoe was rammed and overturned, and a fierce but unequal skirmish ensued. Man scuba diving at Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve. This hostile encounter, the first documented resistance to European encroachment by Native Americans, resulted in a fatality on each side. Columbus himself later named the site of the encounter Cabo de las Flechas or "Cape of the Arrows", in memory of the Spanish fatality. From St. Croix, Columbus' fleet first sailed northward and then west southwestward to San Juan Bautista (later renamed Puerto Rico). Today, visitors to the park can learn about five centuries of history, as well as snorkeling, diving, swimming and hiking. Did you know? The only Tainan ceremonial ball court or plaza found in the Lesser Antilles is at Salt Bay River. Both ceremonial and recreational, the ball game originated in Mesoamerica. The ball court was excavated by a Danish archaeologist, Gudmund Hatt in 1923. The 350 foot submarine canyon at the entrance to Salt River Bay, with its diversity of deep water coral and unique geologic features (such as caverns, grottoes, ledges, and caves) is one of few such features found worldwide. Learn more/get involved: Use Fewer Plastic Products. Plastics that end up in the ocean as marine debris contribute to habitat destruction and entangle and kill many marine animals. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle! Buy products with less packaging. Use reusable water bottles and cloth grocery bags. Recycle whenever possible. Don't release helium balloons outside because once they end up in the ocean, they harm animals that mistake them for food. Cut open plastic six-pack rings because they can entangle ocean life. For more information, visit: http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/ Dispose of Household & Hazardous Materials Properly: Motor oil, anti-freeze and other hazardous materials harm our oceans when they aren't disposed of properly. Dispose of hazardous waste in an environmentally safe way. Fix car leaks and recycle motor oil. Don't flush pharmaceuticals, non-degradable products or cleaning products with bleach or phosphates down the drain. For more information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/osw/