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Jun 18, 2024Lupine fields, Snæfellsnes, Iceland

As spring gives way to summer in Iceland, the rugged landscape bursts into color. Lupines were introduced here in the 1940s for their soil-binding properties, to reduce erosion. The plant flourishes in sandy and salty soils and spreads rapidly, bringing hues of purple, pink, and blue. Although some consider lupine to be a threat to native plants, it is welcomed by many as a cherished part of the summer landscape. You can find lupine fields in Reykjavík, near the Skógafoss waterfall, and lining the road to the Hellissandur Church in the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, as seen in today"s image.Desktop Version

Nov 5, 2022Tigh Mor Trossachs on Loch Achray, Scotland

Fairy-tale castle? Check. Stunning Scottish backdrop? Check. Calm, tranquil loch? Check. If Tigh Mor looks idyllic to you, you"re not alone. Queen Victoria spent time here in its heyday, and though the old hotel (it was built in 1849) declined over the years, a multimillion-dollar restoration has brought it right back to its former glory.Desktop Version

Aug 17, 2022Freshwater plants in Aquário Natural, Brazil

Aquário Natural (Natural Aquarium, naturally) is the pristine, crystal-clear source of the Baía Bonita River and a highlight of the Baía Bonita Ecological Reserve. This remote inland region near the town of Bonito, Brazil, is a popular spot for ecotourism. A tour of the Aquário Natural offers a hike through the jungle followed by snorkeling with over 30 varieties of fish and gorgeous vegetation to marvel at. Other popular activities of the area include swimming in the Rio da Prata (Silver River), rappelling 236 feet down into the waters of the Anhumas Abyss, and walking through the treetops on the suspended steel walkway of the Circuito Arvorismo (Trees Circuit).Desktop Version

May 20, 2022World Bee Day

It"s World Bee Day, and we"re doffing our caps in thanks to the world"s lesser known "essential workers." According to the UN, three out of four crops across the globe producing fruits or seeds for use as human food depend, at least in part, on bees and other pollinators. And tens of thousands of flowering plants, like the crocuses in today"s photo, would not exist if it weren"t for the little buzzers. A quote often misattributed to Albert Einstein suggests humans would have only four years left to live if the bees go extinct. No matter who said it, the message is clear: Our livelihood is intimately tied to the survival of bees. And that connection is of critical importance now, as bee colonies continue to struggle after more than 20 years of mass die-offs, a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder.Desktop Version

Jun 19, 2023Juneteenth

Juneteenth is here, a day celebrating the freedom of enslaved African Americans shortly after the end of the Civil War. While Abraham Lincoln"s final Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863 freed slaves in Confederate states, certain areas did not abolish slavery until months after Confederate forces surrendered. Texas issued an order on June 19, 1865, that "all slaves are free." This act was the origin of Juneteenth, which combines the words June and nineteenth. However, slavery did not fully end in the US until the 13th Amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865.Desktop Version

Nov 27, 2023Río Negro, Amazon basin, Brazil

From its source in Colombia, the Río Negro flows about 1,400 miles to become one of the largest tributaries of the Amazon River at the Meeting of Waters in Manaus, Brazil. It is also the largest blackwater river in the world, its water stained by decomposing organic matter that seeps in from swamps. These slow-moving, dark waters beautifully reflect the colors of the sky, including the rainbows which form over the Amazon basin, as seen here. The river also plays a crucial role in the ecosystem, as the home of many plants and animals, including the critically endangered Brazilian barefaced tamarin, the giant river otter, and nearly 700 species of fish.Desktop Version

Nov 19, 2024Tasmans Arch, Tasmania, Australia

Ready for a coastal adventure? Welcome to Tasman National Park in Tasmania, an island state of Australia about 150 miles off its southeastern coast. Spanning more than 41 square miles, this park features dramatic cliffs and distinctive columns of dolerite rock. Tasmans Arch, seen in today"s image, is a standout example. Shaped over time by the Tasman Sea, it was once the roof of a massive sea cave. The sea"s pressure, combined with air, sand, and stones, slowly pried open the vertical cracks in the cliff, dislodging chunks of rock. The cave kept growing, deepening, and lengthening, until it eventually gave way, leaving behind this towering natural bridge. Tasmans Arch is named after the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who also lends his name to the state of Tasmania.Desktop Version

Nov 12, 2022Alaska Bald Eagle Festival

Each November as many as 4,000 bald eagles descend on the Chilkat River near Haines, Alaska, to feed on the late run of chum and coho salmon that have returned to spawn in the river flats. It"s a feast for birds and birders alike, as the raptors tear into a never-ending supply of tasty fish. The largest congregation of eagles in the world, it"s celebrated by the annual Alaska Bald Eagle Festival in the second week of November. The event features live raptor demonstrations, educational programs, guided hikes, and live music.Desktop Version

Dec 25, 2023Merry Christmas!

Dashing through the snow on our homepage today, reindeer, or caribou as they are known here in North America, have been synonymous with Christmas for two centuries. American writer Clement Clarke Moore is credited with popularizing them as Santa"s helpers in the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," first published in 1823. And no wonder Santa picked them. With two layers of fur and eyes that adapt to the Arctic"s shifting light levels, reindeer are very versatile. You likely won"t see them fly, but you might find a herd migrating from tundra to forest in the North Polar Region, North America, Northern Europe, or Siberia. Their hooves can expand or shrink according to ground conditions, keeping their heavy frame stable on soft ground in summer, ice in winter, and steep rooftops at Christmas. If you"re celebrating Christmas today, we wish you a merry one.Desktop Version

Dec 11, 2024International Mountain Day

Today, we celebrate International Mountain Day, an event to honor the towering giants of our planet. Among them are the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, or the "Three Peaks of Lavaredo," seen on the right in today"s image. A part of the Sexten Dolomites in northeastern Italy, they"re one of the most famous mountain groups in the Alps. These three peaks—Cima Grande, Cima Ovest, and Cima Piccola—are a UNESCO World Heritage Site that captivates adventurers and nature lovers alike. During World War I, the front line between Italy and Austria-Hungary cut through the peaks, leaving the area with many remnants of the conflict, such as fortifications, trenches, tunnels, and commemorative plaques.Desktop Version

Jun 6, 2022Indigo bunting

This time of year, from late spring to summer, male adult indigo buntings take it up a notch and turn a brilliant deep blue. They fly up to a perch—like our cheerful fellow atop a branch—and sing from morning to night to defend their territory from other males and to catch the attention of females. Indigo buntings are members of the "blue" clade (subgroup) of the cardinal family.Desktop Version

Sep 7, 2022200th anniversary of Brazilian independence

Today we visit the Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow) in Rio de Janeiro to celebrate 200 years of Brazilian independence. Designed by Spanish neofuturist architect Santiago Calatrava, the unique structure was commissioned to showcase Rio"s revitalized waterfront ahead of the 2016 Olympics. The museum comprises five main areas: Cosmos, Earth, Anthropocene, Tomorrow, and Us, each inviting visitors to interact in different ways and learn about living in a sustainable world.Desktop Version

Nov 15, 2022River otters at Acadia National Park, Maine

You "otter" know something about the creatures in today"s photo. They"re a pair of North American river otters swimming in Maine"s Acadia National Park. Technically members of the weasel family, these "water dogs" aren"t just locked into rivers. They can be found in other waterways and along the coasts of North America. A myopic animal with eyesight adapted to help with swimming, river otters will come right up on humans or boats, usually within a few feet.Desktop Version

Dec 2, 2024Moose, Denali National Park, Alaska

Have you ever experienced the awe of seeing an Alaskan moose? The largest moose species, these creatures can weigh 1,400 pounds and reach heights of up to 6 feet at the shoulder. Male moose are called bulls, females are known as cows, and their young are referred to as calves. One thing that really sets moose apart is their incredible antlers, which are only sported by the males.Desktop Version

Aug 19, 2022National Aviation Day

In the summer of 2016, an experimental solar-powered airplane called Solar Impulse 2 completed a 26,000-mile multi-stage trip around the world without using a single drop of jet fuel. The remarkable feat took longer than a year and made the slow-flying plane part of aviation history. We are remembering this seminal flight today to mark National Aviation Day, established in 1939 by President Franklin Roosevelt as a day to celebrate the advancement of flight. August 19 was chosen because it is the birthdate of Orville Wright, who in 1903, with his brother Wilbur Wright, became the first to achieve powered, controlled flight on the hills of Kitty Hawk on North Carolina"s Outer Banks.Desktop Version

Aug 4, 2022Satla marshland in Bangladesh

There may be a more peaceful, stress-free job somewhere, but we wager that the farmers harvesting water lilies and gliding along the river in Satla, Bangladesh, might have that locked up. The flowers bloom during the seasonal flood from August to November, cloaking an incredible 15 square miles of wetlands in gorgeous, fragrant pink. The village of Satla, in the Barisal District of south-central Bangladesh, is known as the capital of "shapla," or water lilies, for obvious reasons.Desktop Version

Oct 29, 2024Great horned owl

The Halloween season is upon us, so let"s meet one of the holiday"s icons: the great horned owl. With its keen vision, eerie vocalizations, and silent flight, this owl has historically been revered and feared. In folklore and mythology, owls were considered symbols of wisdom and omens of death. On Samhain, the Celtic precursor to Halloween, the owl was believed to be the kin of roaming spirits.Desktop Version

Dec 8, 2024Notre-Dame Cathedral reopens

In the heart of Paris stands one of the city"s most enduring icons: Notre-Dame Cathedral. Built between the 12th and 13th centuries on the Île de la Cité—an island in the Seine—Notre-Dame has witnessed centuries of French history, from the Hundred Years" War to the French Revolution, and beyond. Although it was chosen by Napoleon as the site of his coronation as emperor in 1804, by the early 19th century, the cathedral was in a state of disrepair. However, one novel changed its fortunes: "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" by Victor Hugo, published in 1831. The popularity of this book helped encourage a restoration project that renewed the cathedral"s former beauty.Desktop Version

Jun 17, 2023International Surfing Day

International Surfing Day promotes the protection of the ocean alongside celebrating the sport itself, every year on the third Saturday in June. People gather for surfing contests, barbeques, beach cleanups, and other activities to help restore the ocean environment. Coming together for a cause is a hallmark of the global surfing community, whether campaigning for cleaner waters or standing together against injustice, as they did at the Paddle Out for Unity gathering in 2020 in Encinitas, California, pictured on our homepage.Desktop Version

Mar 5, 2024Bangkok, Thailand

In vibrant Thailand, the city of Bangkok pulses with life! Covering an area of more than 600 square miles, it is estimated that over 10 million people live there, roughly 15% of the country"s population. The capital city is home to a bustling urban infrastructure, featuring a complex network of traffic circles and highways. In 1864, the completion of Charoen Krung Road marked a turn in the city"s transit by serving as a pioneering construction project utilizing Western techniques. The introduction of a complex elevated expressway network in 1972 and the Don Mueang Tollway has made it easier to drive in and out of the city. Over the years, the road network has evolved to meet the demands of this sprawling urban expanse.Desktop Version

Dec 10, 2024Lands End, Cornwall, England

Windswept cliffs, rugged beauty, and dramatic ocean views—welcome to Land"s End in Cornwall, England. Since ancient Greek times, when it was known as "Belerion" or "Place of the Sun," or in Arthurian legends about the lost land of Lyonesse, Land"s End has always been a place of fascination. Land"s End is the most southwestern point on mainland Britain. It"s often the starting point or end of charity races that run the length of the island of Great Britain from Land"s End to John o"Groats at Britain"s northeastern tip.Desktop Version

Mar 10, 2023Vale of Edale, Peak District, England

Welcome to the Vale of Edale, home to a small village which marks the starting point of one of the UK"s most famous long-distance walks. Edale is one of many dales—or wide valleys—of England"s Peak District National Park, a picturesque area where heather moorland and rocky gritstone landscapes sit side-by-side with rolling uplands. From here, walkers set out on the hilly and remote Pennine Way, covering 268 miles along England"s wildest landscapes up to the Scottish Borders. But if you don"t want to hike that far, excellent walking country surrounds the village itself, which lies to the south of the Peak District"s highest point, Kinder Scout.Desktop Version

Feb 15, 2022Lantern Festival

Lunar New Year festivities last 15 days, culminating with a good party known as the Lantern Festival. Here in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China"s Sichuan province, it"s said that residents have been hosting Lantern Festival celebrations since the year 711, though the origins of the festival are believed to be more than 2,000 years old. This year"s festivities take place on February 15, with homes and businesses draped in lanterns of all shapes and sizes, often in the traditional red silk with gold trim as you see here.Desktop Version

Dec 26, 2022Boxing Day in East Yorkshire, England

The sledders in our photo are enjoying Boxing Day in England, bundled up and hurtling down a hill at Beverley Westwood Common near Black Mill in East Yorkshire. Traditionally, Boxing Day is a day off to relax after the excitement of Christmas. What"s behind the name? There are a few theories, but the most widely accepted one is that the name derives from the giving of "boxes" (of gifts) to the poor the day after Christmas. Perhaps we should all follow that example today, as we eat Christmas leftovers and listen to lingering carols. How can we give a little Christmas to those who are less fortunate?Desktop Version

Apr 17, 2023International Haiku Poetry Day

Get out your pen and paper—it"s International Haiku Poetry Day! Haikus originated in Japan as the opening segment of a larger poem called a renga. Eventually they became individual poems of their own. A traditional haiku consists of 17 phonetic units—similar to a syllable—in a 5, 7, 5 formation. Though simple, a great haiku creates a sense of beauty and a connection to nature. That connection was captured in the artwork seen here, "One Thousand Springs," an installation of 5,000 haikus suspended within a web of red threads by artist Chiharu Shiota. It was part of the 2021 Japan Festival at Kew Royal Botanic Gardens in London. Here"s some inspiration for you to write a haiku yourself:Desktop Version

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