Papahanaumokuakea, Hawaii, USA

PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA, HAWAII, USA

The euphoniously named Papahanaumokuakea is a Marine National Monument in the NW Hawaiian islands considered sacred by Native Hawaiians, who believe all life springs from there, and that spirits return there after death. It consists of 583,000 square miles of ocean, surrounding 10 islands and atolls. It is one of the world's largest protected areas, with numerous species.

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(Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons; CTTO)