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Jun. 11, 2024A group of Southern gemsbok in the savannah, Botswana

Horns up, heads high! Featured here is a group of gemsboks, a large antelope, reigning over the sprawling savannahs in southwestern Africa. Indigenous to the arid territories of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and parts of Zimbabwe, they thrive mainly within the Kalahari and Namib Deserts. They can survive in extremely dry conditions and can go without water for weeks, getting moisture from the food they eat. Moreover, gemsboks are adept runners, achieving speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour. Their distinguishing trait is their notably elongated, straight horns. Although both genders possess these formidable defences, the females" horns tend to be slightly longer and sleeker while the males" horns are thicker with broader bases. So, if you ever find yourself in the sandy plains of the Kalahari, keep an eye out for these desert gems.Desktop Version

Positively purple peaks

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Fresh finds in Fraser Valley

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Apr. 2, 2024Beech trees and anemone wildflowers, Jutland, Denmark

Today"s homepage takes us to Jutland, Denmark, where the arrival of spring showcases the green hues of the European beech, a national symbol of this northern land. The young leaves of these budding trees are significant to the Danish people, as they are harvested from April to May and used in cooking—particularly in salads. In the past, Europeans would often use the smooth bark of beech trees for writing texts. In fact, in the modern Dutch language, the term for "book" directly translates as "beech tree." As the sun shines through the forest canopy, wild anemones brighten up the woodland with their white petals. These blooms, representing delicate beauty and sincerity, have even starred in masterpieces by artists such as Monet and Vincent van Gogh.Desktop Version

Apr. 4, 2024Red lechwe, Okavango Delta, Botswana

With their elegant leaps and graceful movements, lechwe are the epitome of agility and poise on the African savanna. These antelopes, known for their distinctive reddish-brown coats and lyre-shaped horns, are native to the wetlands and floodplains of south-central Africa, including the Okavango Delta in Botswana, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lechwe are social animals, often found in herds of thousands. In the heart of the delta, they are an integral part of the region"s rich biodiversity, coexisting with other species like elephants, lions, rhinos and hippos, wading through the water. Their presence adds to the delta"s natural allure, which draws in thousands of safari enthusiasts and is proof of wildlife"s resilience in the face of environmental challenges.Desktop Version

Dec. 21, 2024Happy winter solstice!

The winter solstice is here. Today marks the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere, while last night was the longest night of the year. This has been an important event for millennia, with evidence of celebrations going back as far as 10,000 BCE. Some of the world"s most famous Stone Age monuments, including Stonehenge, are aligned with the point that the sun rises or sets on the winter solstice. Traditionally, it was a time for feasting and lighting of fires to symbolise the darkest day of the year. Ancient Germanic tribes celebrated the winter solstice by bringing evergreens into their homes as a symbol of the returning light and the coming spring.Desktop Version

Turtle-y nice day for a swim

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Owl be seeing you ... somewhere!

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Sep. 22, 2024Autumn equinox

Autumn is in the air—officially. The September equinox marks the transition from the lush summer to the mellow fall in the Northern Hemisphere, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it signals the beginning of spring. The term "equinox" is derived from Latin, meaning "equal night." During this moment, the Earth"s axis is perpendicular to the sun, meaning it rises due east and sets due west, a rare moment of global balance. This balance occurs because the Earth"s axis is neither tilted toward nor away from the sun.Desktop Version

This bird is peak beak

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Underwater underground

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On the open ocean road

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Mar. 18, 2024Elephant 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 52-metre-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

Look, but don’t touch

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Oct. 1, 2024Yosemite National Park, California, USA

There"s a reason why famed American photographer Ansel Adams fell in love with Yosemite National Park: vistas like today"s image of Half Dome. Located in central California"s Sierra Nevada mountain range, the park has been a popular destination for artists, mountaineers, settlers and nature lovers since the mid-1800s. To preserve the area and protect it from logging and overgrazing by cattle, the US Congress designated Yosemite a national park on this day in 1890. It"s one of the most visited parks in the United States, with annual attendance exceeding 3 million, and it"s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Desktop Version

Apr. 17, 2024Black bear cub emerges into spring

Welcome to the world, bear cub! After spending the first months of its life inside the den, this frizzy American black bear child may be puzzled by the outside world. The cubs are born between January and February, but they don"t leave their den until about mid-April or the beginning of May. When the young bears emerge into spring, they weigh around 2 kilograms and grow to about 36 kilograms by their first birthday. The weight of black bears—ranging between 45 and 272 kilograms in the case of adults—however, not only depends on their age, sex and the season but is also based on the diet available in their habitation. Black bears are the only bears found in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, USA, which provides the setting for today"s image.Desktop Version

Aug. 21, 2024Nazca boobies, Wolf Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galápagos Islands in the eastern Pacific are a paradise for wildlife. Its habitats range from arid regions to tropical rainforests. Because these islands are so isolated, many of the species that live here are not found anywhere else in the world. One species found in abundance is the Nazca booby, pictured here on Wolf Island. The name of these striking birds might raise a few eyebrows, but it actually comes from the Spanish word "bobo," meaning clown, because of the birds" clumsy demeanour when they"re walking.Desktop Version