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Jun 2, 2023Gemsbok in Namibian sand dunes

To quote Jurassic Park"s Dr. Malcolm: "Life, uh, finds a way." Animals and plants are found in some of Earth"s most inhospitable places, from penguins and polar bears in the freezing Arctic to camels in scalding deserts. This lonely gemsbok, seen here in sand dunes in Namibia, is used to living in an inhospitable environment. Also known as the oryx, it is native to the arid regions of Southern Africa, especially around the Namib and Kalahari deserts. The gemsbok does not need to drink much water, instead finding hydration in the vegetation it grazes upon—including wild tsamma melons and cucumbers. When vegetation is sparse, they can dig deep to find roots and tubers to supplement their diet.Desktop Version

Apr 26, 2022Landscape Architecture Month

April is World Landscape Architecture Month, and to mark the occasion, we"re hovering above this masterwork, probably the most famous urban park in the world. Central Park is not the oldest, or the biggest, but no city park is more iconic. About 42 million people visit the park every year, and it"s the most filmed location in the world. What American movie is complete without a scene of a stroll through its unmistakable grounds?Desktop Version

Sep 17, 2019Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is a single celebration that commemorates the formation and signing of the US Constitution while also recognizing both naturalized citizens and those born in the US. It"s a day to learn about these subjects, as well as a day many people become naturalized citizens in group ceremonies. (On average, about 700,000 people become US citizens every year.) To celebrate, we"re looking at an unusual close-up of the Statue of Liberty, a welcoming sight to immigrants and a symbol of freedom since 1886. The statue"s tablet has the date of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) inscribed in Roman numerals: JULY IV MDCCLXXVI.Desktop Version

Nov 18, 2021Bohemian Switzerland

Today we rhapsodize about the beautiful region called Bohemian Switzerland, but we"re hundreds of miles from Switzerland. The name for the area originated with Swiss painters visiting the Kingdom of Bohemia, now the western half of the Czech Republic. They were reminded of their homeland by this region"s dramatic sandstone formations. Turns out the acclaimed artist named Mother Nature finds inspiration here, too, turning the Bohemian Switzerland’s pockets of thick forest into a canvas of warm oranges and yellows every autumn.Desktop Version

Aug 15, 2024Hang Sơn Đoòng Cave, Vietnam

In 1991, logger Hồ Khanh stumbled upon something big in what is now Vietnam"s Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park. During a jungle expedition, he found the entrance to a cave with a roaring underground river. It was later named Hang Sơn Đoòng, or "cave of the mountain river" and in 2009, the British Cave Research Association led an expedition to explore it. They realized something incredible: It was the world"s largest cave. Hang Sơn Đoòng"s main passage is 3.1 miles long, 490 feet wide, and 660 feet high. That"s tall enough to fit a 40-story skyscraper.Desktop Version

Oct 23, 2023Corn maze in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania

All hail Mazezilla, a massive maze of corn found in the Poconos region of Pennsylvania. Spread over 11 acres, there is a different one to solve every year, making it a popular attraction each September and October for those who enjoy perplexing challenges on a giant scale.Desktop Version

Oct 16, 2023Golden larches and Prusik Peak, the Enchantments, Washington

That jagged granite summit is Prusik Peak, an icon of Washington state"s Enchantments region, high in the Cascade Mountain range. Getting here means a long, strenuous hike, and for much of the year it is covered in snow. But from midsummer through the fall, hikers and climbers arrive here as the larch trees turn golden. The granite peaks and autumnal colors are not the only attractions. The Enchantments boasts more than 700 alpine lakes and ponds, as well as herds of grazing mountain goats that roam this corner of the scenic Alpine Lakes Wilderness.Desktop Version

Aug 4, 2023Tintern Abbey, Wales

Set deep in a gorge of the UK"s River Wye, Tintern Abbey has an enduring presence. Originally built in wood, this Gothic masterpiece in Monmouthshire, Wales, was rebuilt in stone in 1269. It was in use for centuries until the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s, when Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church. The building fell into ruin but, as the centuries passed, word of its intricate stones and romantic, pastoral setting spread. From painter J. M. W. Turner to poet William Wordsworth, many artists were drawn to the abbey over the years. This majestic ruin is now a national icon on the Welsh bank of the River Wye, on the border between Wales and England. There"s another abbey in County Wexford, Ireland, of the same name. Back in olden days, the one in Wales was often known as "Tintern Major," while the Ireland one was called "Tintern de Voto" (Tintern of the Vow).Desktop Version

Nov 16, 202250 years of World Heritage Sites

At its World Heritage Convention on November 16, 1972, UNESCO adopted an international treaty that for the first time linked the concepts of nature conservation and preservation of cultural properties. The World Heritage Sites program was sparked by Egypt"s plans to construct the Aswan High Dam. UNESCO helped save thousands of antiquities that would have been lost as a result of the dam, which flooded a large swath of the Nile Valley.Desktop Version

Mar 16, 2023Panda Day

Giant pandas are loved the world over but nowhere more than in China, where they are considered national treasures. On March 16, we celebrate these distinctive bears, which live mainly in forests in the mountains of western China and subsist almost entirely on a diet of bamboo. These black-and-white giants start off small—a newborn panda is about the size of a stick of butter—but after eating their way through between 26 and 84 pounds of bamboo a day, male adults can weigh in at up to 300 pounds.Desktop Version

Nov 17, 2022National Take a Hike Day

It"s National Take a Hike Day, so what better time to lace up those boots and head out on a trail to pay homage to John Muir, the patron saint (not really) of US hiking. Muir was instrumental in persuading the government that enjoying nature is the right of every American and that there should be an official national park system. He saw the spectacular beauty of the American West when he walked through the Sierra Nevada in California, and was passionate about preserving the country"s national wonders. In 1892, Muir founded the Sierra Club, an environmental organization that protects wild lands to this day.Desktop Version

Apr 9, 2024Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Walk through a real-life canvas where vibrant blossoms paint the Earth in the shadow of Mount Vernon. That"s exactly what awaits you at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Washington. Founded in 1984 by the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce, it began as a three-day event but has since grown into a month-long fiesta. The festival runs from April to May and draws visitors from all over the world. The floral show spans multiple gardens in the valley, so make sure you explore Tulip Town, Tulip Valley Farms, Garden Rosalyn, and the 50-acre display at RoozenGaarde. You can tour the tulip gardens by bicycle and explore the local wineries, breweries, and restaurants. Among the petals, life slows down just enough for us to remember the simple joys—breathe deeply, smile widely, and revel in the spectacle that is the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.Desktop Version

Dec 13, 2024Christmas market, St. Stephens Basilica, Budapest, Hungary

As the holiday season kicks off, St. Stephen"s Basilica becomes the dazzling centerpiece of one of Budapest"s iconic Christmas markets. The fair buzzes with holiday spirit, offering a mix of Hungarian craft, festive décor, and local delicacies, capturing the essence of a traditional Christmas. The Advent Feast—an event held in the weeks leading up to Christmas and part of Hungary"s holiday traditions—invites guests to savor dishes like chimney cakes, stuffed cabbage, and goulash soup, while the scent of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts fills the air. A highlight for many is the 3D light show projected onto the basilica"s facade, a modern touch that brings this historic structure to life.Desktop Version

Feb 9, 2022Ceremony Hall at Sweden s Icehotel

Rebuilt every winter since 1989 in the northernmost county of Sweden, the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi is not only one of a kind each year, but the first of its kind established. Other ice hotels can now be found in Norway, Finland, Canada, Romania, and elsewhere, but this one is still the largest: The ice blocks harvested from the nearby Torne River to build the Icehotel weigh 2 tons each.Desktop Version

Nov 8, 2022Yi Peng Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand

The bright light of the full moon is mirrored by lit lanterns launched skyward in the Thai festival of Yi Peng. It"s a beautiful celebration, as you can see, and it happens around the second full moon at this time of year ("yi" means "two" and "peng" means "full moon day"). Our photo shows the lanterns in Chiang Mai, Thailand"s second-largest city and the home of the most famous Yi Peng observance, which has strong ties to the Lanna people of northern Thailand.Desktop Version

Jan 11, 2024Eurasian lynx

Ready for a next-level staring contest? Don’t worry, you"re unlikely to come face to face with a Eurasian lynx like this one, padding through the snow on our homepage. This elusive predator prowls around the forests of northern Europe and Siberia and the hills and mountains of Central Asia, often unnoticed by humans. Their low calls can be heard by other lynx, and they are primarily active at night, dawn, and dusk, although they can hunt by day if needed. These solitary hunters have keen senses and remarkable agility, able to climb trees and jump more than 6 feet straight up to catch prey. In temperate forests, they mainly dine out on rabbits, hares, marmots, and other small mammals, although they can take on prey as large as deer.Desktop Version

Sep 21, 2019 The Wall for Peace

In today"s image, we"re featuring "The Wall for Peace" in Paris for the International Day of Peace. Since 2000, this exhibit, created by artist Clara Halter and architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, has been inspiring visitors to write their own messages of peace and place them in gaps intentionally created in the structure for that purpose. To mark the International Day of Peace, hundreds of events around the world are being held today, including peace fairs, music concerts, meditations, and more. The UN declared it a "day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples." One of the events today is at UN Headquarters in New York, where the secretary-general will ring the Peace Bell and participants will observe a minute of silence.Desktop Version

Oct 10, 2023Mount Sopris, Colorado

The rising sun hits the twin peaks of Mount Sopris in this autumnal scene, in Colorado"s Elk Mountains, in the Rockies. Known as East Sopris and West Sopris, the two summits are both 12,965 feet in elevation, towering over the town of Carbondale, in the Roaring Fork Valley. It"s a common misconception that Mount Sopris was a volcano but, although magma built up beneath its surface, it never erupted. Instead, it crystallized about 10,000 feet beneath the Earth"s surface, creating a massive rock-covered dome. Erosion by rain, melting snow and glacial ice then shaped it into this twin-peaked giant over tens of millions of years.Desktop Version

Dec 18, 2022South Beach in Miami Beach, Florida

The seaside resort of Miami Beach is perhaps best captured here by the surf at South Beach, its most famous neighborhood. Cosmopolitan Miami Beach is perpetually fixed inside the lens of the world as a playground for the wealthy, glamorous, and aesthetically advantaged set. You"re likely to hear many languages spoken while strolling the sidewalks of Miami Beach. It"s home to the music academy known as the New World Symphony, and host to the visual arts festival, Art Basel. Miami Beach also boasts the world"s largest array of preserved Art Deco structures. It"s a favorite haunt of celebrities—none of whom can outshine the real star, this beach of endless sand.Desktop Version

Apr 11, 2022Fiddlehead fern fronds

You"re officially on notice: Fiddlehead season is about to ramp up! Foragers already know that spring is the best time to find this delicacy in the wild. Fiddlehead fern fronds are one of the first fresh vegetables ready for the yearly harvest. Eaten in Europe, Asia, and North America for centuries, fiddleheads are not only tasty but are also nutritious: They"re a source of antioxidants and omega fatty acids, as well as iron and fiber. When cooked, fiddleheads are said to have a somewhat nutty, grassy flavor akin to a cross between spinach and asparagus.Desktop Version

Apr 3, 2023National Find a Rainbow Day

Happy National Find a Rainbow Day! These colorful natural marvels appear when light strikes water droplets, creating a natural prism effect. So, areas that have plenty of sunshine and showers are a good place to start your search.Desktop Version

May 27, 2022Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Few structures achieve the status of the Golden Gate Bridge—so recognizable that it needs no introduction. Opened on this day in 1937, the bridge was a marvel of engineering, built to withstand ferocious winds above and swirling currents below. Its construction was embraced by the local population because it would finally connect the rising metropolis of San Francisco to communities in Marin County and all that lay north. Before the bridge was completed, a ferry was the only way across the Golden Gate, the mile-wide strait that connects the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay. Building a bridge to cross the span would be no small feat, and many thought it impossible.Desktop Version

Jan 12, 2024Bukhansan National Park, South Korea

Just a few miles north of South Korea"s capital city of Seoul, Bukhansan National Park is a retreat for city dwellers and international visitors. Forests and ancient temples sit side-by-side in the park, beneath the three granite peaks of Bukhan Mountain, or Bukhansan. Among the park"s ridges and valleys, water deer, wild boar, chipmunks, and squirrels roam freely. A careful ear might pick out the rat-a-tat of woodpeckers or the chirpy melody of songbirds perched in the trees. The park also boasts Bukhansanseong Fortress, whose current structure was completed in 1711.Desktop Version

Jan 3, 2025Happy Birthday, J.R.R. Tolkien!

"Don"t adventures ever have an end? I suppose not. Someone else always has to carry on the story." Today, on Tolkien Day, fans around the world honor the master storyteller who crafted the epic adventures of Middle-earth: J.R.R. Tolkien. While Tolkien may have started the tale, it"s his readers who carry it forward, generation after generation, diving into the pages of "The Hobbit," "The Lord of the Rings," and beyond. Tolkienists are encouraged to celebrate the author"s birthday with a toast at 9 PM local time—to participate, all you must do is stand and raise a glass of your choice, say "The Professor," and take a sip.Desktop Version

May 23, 2023World Turtle Day

With distinctive markings on their shells, western box turtles, such as the one seen here, are among the most widely recognized turtle species and one of two box turtle species in the US. Box turtles are named after their dome-shaped shells which are hinged at the bottom, allowing the shell to close like a box if it needs to hide from predators. They generally live for around 25 years but can survive for more than 50, and there have been reports of some living for 100 years.Desktop Version

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