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75th anniversary of the Spruce Goose
75th anniversary of the Spruce Goose
Today we"re looking back to a time when an eccentric billionaire"s dream of reaching new heights was still a novel idea. It was 75 years ago today that Howard Hughes" "flying boat," dubbed the "Spruce Goose," made its one and only flight. Officially named the Hughes H-4 Hercules, the press persisted in calling it the "Spruce Goose" even though it was constructed almost entirely of birch wood. The plane was commissioned in 1942 by American industrialist Henry Kaiser, who supplied ships to the US during World War II. Kaiser recruited Hughes—the film producer turned pilot, engineer, and business magnate—to build a flying cargo ship that could avoid German submarines while transporting troops and war supplies across the Atlantic. The contract called for three of the planes to be built within two years. Hughes was still working on the design when the war ended—in the end, he delivered only the one in our photo, two years after V-E Day.Desktop Version
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act marks 42 years
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act marks 42 years
On this day in 1980, the single largest expansion of protected lands in history doubled the size of the US National Park System. As a result, Alaska now has eight national parks, plus numerous monuments and preserves that protect more than 157 million total acres. When President Jimmy Carter signed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the public was granted the right to appreciate stunning locations like the one in today"s photo: the braided river delta of the 51-mile-long Tlikakila River in Lake Clark National Park.Desktop Version
Wahclella Falls, Oregon
Wahclella Falls, Oregon
Nestled in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon, there"s something special awaiting hikers: the Wahclella Falls. Fed by Tanner Creek, a tributary of the Columbia River, these waterfalls were named after a Native American village by members of the Mazama Mountaineering Club. At the end of a trail, visitors can see the spectacular two-tiered cascade that crashes down 350 feet into a pool below, which is the perfect place to take a dip and cool off. While you"re swimming, keep an eye out for the water ouzel—also known as the American dipper—a species of bird that lives here. They can be spotted flying along the stream and occasionally diving into the water.Desktop Version
Squirrel Appreciation Day
Squirrel Appreciation Day
What"s that long, bushy tail scurrying across the branches? Chances are, it"s a squirrel. These little rodents are found across most of the globe, and today is their special day: Squirrel Appreciation Day. This unofficial holiday was started by a North Carolina wildlife rehabilitator to encourage people to leave out seeds and nuts for these critters. From the tiny least pygmy squirrel—just 5.5 inches long—to the Bhutan giant flying squirrel at more than 4 feet, these mammals come in all shapes and sizes.Desktop Version
Negratín Reservoir, Granada, Spain
Negratín Reservoir, Granada, Spain
Step into serenity at one of the largest freshwater lakes in the southern Spanish province of Granada, in Andalusia. The Negratín Reservoir, created by a dam on the Guadiana Menor River, sits the heart of the Granada Geopark, a unique, semi-desert landscape surrounded by the mountains of the Sierra Nevada.Desktop Version
Chestnut-eared aracari in the Pantanal, Brazil
Chestnut-eared aracari in the Pantanal, Brazil
Today we"re following our nose to the Pantanal in Brazil to visit this member of the toucan family named for the brownish plumage around its ears. What, you"ve never heard of a chestnut-eared aracari? That could be because aracaris don"t really stand out among toucans at a glance: They have long, colorful bills, and they mate for life, always laying eggs in the same nest year after year. But aracaris are much more social nesters: Up to six aracari adults and all their babies might live in one nest.Desktop Version
Porthcawl Lighthouse, Wales, UK
Porthcawl Lighthouse, Wales, UK
With waves crashing against its sturdy base and a stormy sea swirling around, this lighthouse in Porthcawl, on the south coast of Wales, has been standing resilient since 1860. At 30 feet tall, Porthcawl Lighthouse, designed by the eminent engineer James Walker, is often pictured being battered by waves when storms hit. The town"s rugged coastline, with its hidden rocky coves, has always posed a perilous challenge to sailors. Porthcawl Lighthouse was built to help guide the increasing maritime traffic along the Bristol Channel. This cast-iron lighthouse was the last one in the UK to be powered by coal and gas. Although it was converted to electric power in 1997, the lighthouse still maintains its historical charm.Desktop Version
Pumpkin field, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Pumpkin field, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
As fall covers the landscape with amber hues and the chill of Halloween approaches, it"s time to start carving some spooky jack-o"-lanterns. Originally from Ireland and Scotland, this craft was brought to America by immigrants who initially made lanterns from turnips and potatoes but later found pumpkins more plentiful and easier to carve. Once hollowed out and lit with candles, the gourds were transformed into flickering defenses against evil spirits.Desktop Version
Berlin Festival of Lights
Berlin Festival of Lights
The double-decker Oberbaum Bridge is one of Berlin"s most beloved and iconic landmarks. For centuries the Oberbaum Bridge connected the two districts of Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg until they were separated by the Berlin Wall from 1961 to 1989. The first bridge at this spot was built in the 1700s, although the current road-and-rail Oberbaum was constructed at the end of the 19th century.Desktop Version
Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and the Louvre Pyramid
Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and the Louvre Pyramid
Paris features an impressive stretch of parks, gardens, and monuments called the Axe historique, or historical axis, that starts at the Louvre Museum, in the city center, and extends west, ending at La Grande Arche. Today"s image shows the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel at the eastern end of the route, with the embodiment of Peace riding a chariot atop it. It shouldn"t be confused with the better-known and much larger Arc de Triomphe de l"Étoile, which stands 2 miles away, halfway along the Axe historique. It"s a lovely walk from one to the other, through the Jardin Des Tuileries and along the famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées. If the statue on the left side of the photo caught your eye, wave hello to King Louis XIV on horseback.Desktop Version
Astronomy Day
Astronomy Day
In one of the darkest places on Earth there"s a cluster of telescopes that examine the heavens each night, sending detailed information about the celestial bodies they observe to astronomers across the planet. Far from any population centers or light pollution, the Atacama Desert is the world"s driest nonpolar desert. It"s the perfect place for La Silla Observatory, one of the largest observatories in the Southern Hemisphere, and the first to be used by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), a research organization made up of astronomers from 16 European nations. The first ESO telescope at the La Silla site in Chile began operating in 1966.Desktop Version
Elephant Rock, Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia
Elephant Rock, Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia
Over millions of years, the dazzling sandstone formation known as Elephant Rock was carved by nature. Thanks to the wind and water erosion, this 117-foot-high rock near the city of Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia took on the shape of an elephant and has become a prominent landmark in the region. As the sun sets, it casts a warm glow upon the red-hued mammoth and the golden sand of the surrounding desert.Desktop Version
Museum Night in Berlin
Museum Night in Berlin
As the summer is fading away, we find ourselves reminiscing about vacations and long hours of lively evenings. But let"s not bury the picnic days just yet! There is plenty to look forward to, especially if you are in Berlin. The Long Night of Museums only happens once a year—on the last Saturday of August since 1997—but it shakes up Museum Island and the rest of the German capital. The event series is more than a peaceful appreciation of artifacts—quite the opposite—you can expect music, talks, workshops, cocktails, dance, and more from 6 PM into the small hours of the morning. Featured in today"s image, Museum Island—embraced by the Spree River—is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is home to a museum quintet: Altes, Bode, Pergamon, and Neues Museums, and Alte Nationalgalerie.Desktop Version
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Today we celebrate the birthday of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, which boasts 750-foot (and higher) sand dunes that cover more than 30 square miles. But the towering hills of sand—the tallest in North America—are just one feature of an eye-popping Colorado landscape that includes conifer forests, alpine lakes, and wetlands. The 150,000-acre park and preserve even encompasses stretches of tundra at the higher elevations, where it edges up against the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.Desktop Version
Tibetan New Year
Tibetan New Year
Welcome to the year 2152. That is, in the Tibetan calendar at least. Today marks the start of Losar, the new year festival celebrated in Tibetan Buddhism, which is observed in Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, and parts of India. Losar celebrations run for 15 days, beginning the night before with a meal of guthuk—a traditional dumpling soup. The new year is rung in with an incense burning ceremony and visits to holy places to pray for good fortune in the year ahead.Desktop Version
Ring of fire solar eclipse
Ring of fire solar eclipse
Sky gazers have been counting down to today: a "ring of fire" annular solar eclipse is here to darken the skies over the Americas! Solar eclipses happen when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, casting parts of Earth into shadow. In an annular solar eclipse, a halo effect is created when the moon blocks out most but not all, of the sun"s light. An annulus—or ring—of light remains visible. Seen here from Doha, Qatar, in 2019, the phenomenon will appear today over the United States—traveling from Oregon to Texas before continuing to Central America and ending in South America. While the "ring of fire" is visible only in certain areas, partial eclipses will grace parts of all 50 states.Desktop Version
Brown bears, Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Brown bears, Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Summer up north belongs to the bears. When the sun reigns, so do the brown bears of Alaska—like this mother and cub in Katmai National Park and Preserve, about 260 miles southwest of Anchorage. Also known as grizzly bears in Alaska, the brown bears pack a year of living into the summer months, foraging, feasting, frolicking, fighting, and mating under skies of nearly perpetual daylight.Desktop Version
Virgin Islands National Park established
Virgin Islands National Park established
In 1956, businessman and conservationist Laurance Rockefeller saw the beauty of St. John, one of the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, and knew it had to be preserved. He donated more than 5,000 acres of land to the National Park Service, and today we"re marking the 68th anniversary of Virgin Islands National Park. Covering about 60% of St. John and 5,650 acres of submerged lands, the park boasts stunning white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and historic sites.Desktop Version
Glass footbridge in Zhangjiajie, China
Glass footbridge in Zhangjiajie, China
Just 13 days after the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge opened in 2016 in Hunan, China, it was forced to close. Not because it was faulty but because the attendance rates far exceeded capacity. Built to hold 800 people safely at any given time, daily attendance was expected to be around 8,000. When 80,000 visitors showed up each day after it opened, authorities needed some time to reevaluate what exactly they had. Parking, ticketing, and customer service were boosted before the bridge reopened.Desktop Version
Sweetheart Abbey, Scotland
Sweetheart Abbey, Scotland
They say Paris is the City of Love but there"s a lesser-known place where love is the whole reason it even exists. We"re in a Scottish village now known as New Abbey, about 8 miles south of Dumfries. We"ve stepped inside the ruins of Sweetheart Abbey, a 13th-century testament to the love between a husband and wife. Founded in 1273 by "lady of substance" Dervorguilla of Galloway, the abbey was constructed solely to commemorate her love for English nobleman John de Balliol upon his death in 1268.Desktop Version
Castle ruins on the island of Halki, Greece
Castle ruins on the island of Halki, Greece
Halki, a tiny Greek island in the Aegean Sea, is the type of place you go to when you need a getaway from your getaway. Off the beaten path, Halki is quiet and sleepy when other Greek islands are flush with visitors. The only way to arrive is by ferry. Halki, with a total area of just 11 sun-kissed square miles, is the smallest inhabited island in the Dodecanese island group.Desktop Version
Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo
Many celebrations of Cinco de Mayo owe a debt to these rolling fields of blue agave, or agave azul, the source material required to make genuine tequila. The distilled spirit is to Mexico what Scotch whisky is to Scotland and sake to Japan. Tequila is also the base ingredient in the beloved margarita cocktail certain to be served in abundance today.Desktop Version
World Laughter Day
World Laughter Day
Everyone loves a good giggle, but did you know that laughter is also good for you? Today is World Laughter Day, which highlights the healing benefits of laughing, both physically and emotionally. Some studies have shown that laughing can boost the immune system, elevate mood, and reduce pain. It turns out the old adage is true—laughter really is the best medicine.Desktop Version
The Guggenheim Bilbao turns 25
The Guggenheim Bilbao turns 25
Considered one of the world"s most important architectural works of the past few decades, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao celebrates its 25th anniversary today. To commemorate the event, the museum has unveiled a slogan: "Art Inspires Future." The museum has also released a special edition of its logo in which the characteristic Gs of the Guggenheim brand move like gears to shape the number 25. Perhaps they"ll serve cake as well?Desktop Version
Skyscraper Day
Skyscraper Day
Skyscraper Day pays tribute to the towering architectural wonders that dominate our city skylines. Observed on September 3, it also marks the birthday of Louis Henry Sullivan, a pioneer of modern architecture who is often called the "father of skyscrapers." Found in the world"s biggest cities, skyscrapers serve as symbols of progress, ambition, and reaching new heights. Manhattan, the dense, vibrant heart of New York City, boasts a mesmerizing skyline with an array of iconic skyscrapers. These structures, like the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, and the Chrysler Building, define the city"s architectural and cultural legacy and captivate millions of visitors every year.Desktop Version