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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

Jul 3, 2022Dog days of summer

Other than our pet dogs, no other canine species has succeeded more at living among humans than the fox. This is despite the fact that people have hunted foxes for sport and for their highly coveted fur, and generally regarded them as pests and nemeses. No matter how we feel about them, foxes seem to have earned our respect. Of all the animals that are arguably clever and crafty, the word we use is "outfoxed," not "outcrowed," or "outbeared," or "outraccooned."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

Jun 29, 2022International Day of the Tropics

Only in the tropics do forests grow in salt water. Take this forest of mangrove trees in Phang Nga Bay in southern Thailand, one of the largest and best-preserved mangrove forests in the country. Adapted to thrive in coastal marshes and swamps, mangroves can filter salt water and withstand strong coastal storms. Virtually all mangrove forests and all species of mangrove grow only in the tropical regions of the world. They are protectors of the coastlines, acting as a buffer against storms and floods.Desktop Version

Oct 15, 2019The globe skimmers return

This time of year, millions of dragonflies are returning to the Maldives, a stage in the longest insect migration in the world. Flying thousands of miles across the open ocean, these dragonflies are known as globe skimmers, which refers to their migratory behavior. Until about 20 years ago, no one knew where they came from. But researchers have since discovered that the dragonflies take advantage of moving weather systems and monsoon rains to make their epic migration across the Arabian Sea from India. From the Maldives, the dragonflies will continue their journey, passing through the Seychelles and then on to East Africa.Desktop Version

Oct 19, 2023Mekong River Delta, Long An, Vietnam

In the heart of Vietnam, where emerald rice fields stretch to the horizon and a mighty river flows with life-giving waters, flooding becomes an anticipated dance between nature and culture. The Mekong River experiences flooding every year, which turns this river into a photographer"s paradise. Adorned with elegant lilies that are nourished by the floods, farmers in the Long An province, in southeastern Vietnam, dedicate their days to harvesting the bloom of the plants. The annual floods bring in nutrients from upstream, enriching the fields and helping these flowers grow. These lilies also provide a food supply and contribute to the community"s economy since the stems are edible and the plant can be brewed into tea. These long-stemmed flowers pay tribute to nature"s ability to generate moments of amazing beauty that inspire and uplift the human soul.Desktop Version

Apr 21, 2023Procida, Italy

Procida is a charming Italian island in the Gulf of Naples, boasting colorful buildings, picturesque streets, and stunning sea views. The island has a rich history, having been settled by the Greeks, Romans, and other civilizations over the centuries, but is less well-known than its larger neighbours, Capri and Ischia. Its oldest fishing village, Marina Corricella, features pastel-colored buildings and narrow streets and is a great place to enjoy fresh seafood and soak up the atmosphere. From there, you can climb up to the fortified medieval village of Terra Murata, built on the island"s highest point, which offers panoramic views over the entire Gulf of Naples.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

Jun 21, 2022Summer solstice

What more atmospheric place to celebrate today"s summer solstice than ancient Glastonbury in Somerset, England? Spend the longest day of the year exploring the town, which is swaddled in myth and history. Pagans and Christians alike have worshipped here through the ages, and both groups still do today. Glastonbury Tor is the striking hill on the horizon, and the lonely tower is the last vestige of the 14th-century church of St Michael, which was built to replace a wooden church toppled by an earthquake in 1275.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

Apr 25, 2023World Penguin Day

Penguins are pretty amazing. From their social personalities to their impressive talent for swimming and diving, they"re a bird worth celebrating. Today, World Penguin Day, is the perfect time to learn more about these flightless birds, noted for their swimming prowess.Desktop Version

Oct 6, 2022International Geodiversity Day

These dragon tail-like structures that stretch into the Bay of Biscay are part of one of the most unique and remarkable geologic formations on the planet. The Basque Coast of northern Spain is a wonderland for geologists and for people who just like looking at cool rocks. Guided tours of the Basque Coast Geopark allow visitors to discover 60 million years of uninterrupted geologic history.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

Aug 18, 2022Surströmming Day

Get your clothespins ready, it"s Surströmming Day! For the uninitiated, that means we"re in Sweden and cracking open this year"s surströmming harvest to enjoy its putrid wonder. Surströmming is Baltic herring that"s been caught in April and May, then lightly salted and allowed to ferment. Beginning in the 1940s, a royal ordinance forbade the selling of Surströmming before the third Thursday in August to prevent incompletely fermented fish from being sold. The ordinance is no longer on the books, but the tradition holds.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 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

Feb 4, 2024Devetashka Cave, Devetaki, Bulgaria

Step through time and into the cavernous depths of Devetashka Cave in Bulgaria, a sprawling prehistoric complex which humans called home for tens of thousands of years. These days, it is home to bats, about 30,000 of them, as well as rare birds and reptiles. This karst cave was formed by erosion and is now part of a public park. Humans are thought to have sought shelter here as far back as the Early Stone Age, about 70,000 years ago, and many Neolithic artefacts from 6000-4000 BCE have been discovered. Several large openings in the cave cast natural light into the chambers, offering better illumination for photographers and nature lovers alike.Desktop Version

Feb 23, 2025Mount Fuji Day

Around 60 miles southwest of Tokyo stands one of Japan"s cultural icons: Mount Fuji. The country"s tallest mountain rises 12,000 feet above the surrounding landscape, with its near-symmetrical cone covered in snow for nearly five months each year. For centuries, Fujisan—as it is known in Japanese—has been worshiped as a sacred mountain. In the Shinto faith, Fuji is deified as Asama no Okami, and shrines dedicated to it are built within sight of the mountain.Desktop Version

Feb 11, 2024Folegandros Island, Cyclades, Greece

Welcome to Folegandros, one of the Greek Cyclades Islands in the Aegean Sea. This picturesque island has changed hands several times during its long history. It is thought it was once home to the Dorians, one of the four major ethnic groups of classical Greece, but it was also ruled for centuries by the Republic of Venice and later the Ottoman Empire. Greece reclaimed it in 1828.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

Sep 15, 2021It s National Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month takes us to the Texas border town of El Paso, where artist Jesus "CIMI" Alvarado is pictured applying the final touches to the mural he calls "Fronterizos" (Border People). It was commissioned by the El Paso Museum of Art for one of its outside walls. Alvarado began his painting career as a graffiti artist, tagging the walls of the city"s historic Segundo Barrio, and today his work can be found throughout the city. This mural depicts a local musician, Johnny Barragan, with an unnamed woman, and is described as an ode to a hometown hero of El Paso.Desktop Version

Oct 26, 2019 FOR FOREST by Klaus Littmann

When artist Klaus Littmann covered the pitch of this Austrian soccer stadium with 300 trees, he not only created the country"s largest public art installation—he brought to life a vision of a dystopian future. The installation here at Wörthersee Stadion (Stadium) in the city of Klagenfurt made headlines around the world when it was unveiled on September 8, 2019. Titled "FOR FOREST: The Unending Attraction of Nature," it"s inspired by a nearly identical pencil drawing created in 1970 by Max Peintner, an artist known in the European environmental movement. Littmann first saw the drawing 30 years ago and in the decades since, he held onto his dream of turning it into a reality. Through his work, he hopes to spark conversation about climate change, perception, and the relationship between nature and people. If you"d like to see it in person, you"ll have to hurry. It closes tomorrow, October 27, at 10 PM.Desktop Version

Feb 9, 2024Pegadung Rock, Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia

An unspoiled landscape carved by nature"s raw power, waves crash against Pegadung Rock on the southern coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. This remote beach boasts turquoise waters, but it is the striking rocks that steal the show, standing tall against the might of the Indian Ocean. The rock formations, some of which are 33 feet tall, have given rise to various nicknames, among them Gigi Hiu (shark teeth) and Batu Layar (rock screen) Beach. While this beach has no tourist accommodation, the nearby village of Kiluan presents a haven for visitors. For those ready to trade lounging for exploring, this Sumatran treasure awaits.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

Jul 21, 2023Storseisundet Bridge, Norway

Norway"s picturesque Atlantic Ocean Road crosses eight bridges as it makes its way across islands, islets, and reefs to link the island of Averøya with the mainland Romsdal Peninsula. The longest of them, pictured here, is the Storseisundet Bridge. This bridge, surrounded by ample natural beauty, was tough to build. It took six years, and during construction workers were pelted by the region"s unpredictable weather, including 12 hurricanes. It opened in 1989 and remains a popular visitor attraction. With its dramatic curve and sudden incline, Storseisundet Bridge creates the illusion of suddenly disappearing into the ocean, making drivers skip a heartbeat. Its construction showcases the brilliance of Norwegian engineering, blending seamlessly with the landscape.Desktop Version

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