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Aug. 30, 2023International Whale Shark Day

Say hello to the largest fish in the world, the whale shark. On August 30, we celebrate International Whale Shark Day to honour these magnificent marine creatures. These gentle giants are not related to whales, despite their impressive size of an average of 12 metres in length. Whale sharks are calm creatures which are usually safe for divers to swim alongside. These sharks are filter feeders and consume plankton and small fish by sieving them through their gill plates. There has been a significant decline in their populations, with an estimated 63% decrease in their numbers in the last 75 years. Threats include being hit by boats or tangled in fishing gear, and their habitats are being damaged by pollution, coastal development, and over-fishing. Advocates work through education and community engagement to help safeguard whale sharks and preserve our oceans.Desktop Version

Blood moon

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Apr. 6, 2024Japan Castle Day

From Strawberry Day to Cat Day and even Vegetable Day, Japan has a list of faux holidays, which are the clever results of "dajare" or word plays. Today"s date, April 6, makes up the Japanese word for castle, "shiro" from "shi" (4) and "ro" (6). Hence, the celebration of castles. What better opportunity than Castle Day, to learn about the country"s largest and most visited castle—Himeji Castle? Dating back to 1333, this UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts an advanced defensive design and five National Treasure structures. The castle has also withstood time and nature"s fury, surviving the bombings of World War II and the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995. In addition, nearly 700 years of glory, local legends and ghost stories reverberate through the 83 rooms of this hilltop fortress. Would you care to explore?Desktop Version

Sep. 15, 2023Glenariff Forest Park, County Antrim, Ireland

Glenariff Forest Park, nestled in the heart of Northern Ireland, hosts an array of wonders for nature enthusiasts. Famously known as "the Queen of the Glens," the park boasts a wealth of panoramic landscapes, serene riverside strolls, and three magnificent waterfalls. Covering over 10 square kilometres, the park is under the care of the Northern Ireland Forest Service. Apart from being a recreational haven, it supports timber production and is a site of conservation for animals such as the red squirrel and Irish hare. Whether you"re exploring the serene Scenic Trail or delving into the heart of the glen on the Waterfall Walk Trail, these journeys promise that you"ll experience some of Northern Ireland"s finest natural splendour.Desktop Version

A mirror reflecting natures beauty

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Mar. 1, 2025Aurora borealis over Maligne Lake in Alberta

Some places feel almost untouched by time. In Canada, one such place sits deep in Jasper National Park, Alberta, where the 22-kilometre-long, winding Maligne Lake cuts through the mountains. It is the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies, where towering peaks, glacial waters and endless sky come together.Desktop Version

Aug. 24, 2023Shark Fin Cove, California

Shark Fin Cove, also known as Shark Tooth Beach, is nestled in a cove in the tiny town of Davenport on California"s Central Coast. The cove is a coastal gem known for its stunning sea stack—a vertical rock formation that resembles a shark"s fin. The fin used to be connected to the mudstone cliff that surrounds the beach. Over time, the relentless crashing waves and strong winds slowly eroded the rock formation. Shark Fin Cove is visible from Highway 1, where travellers can stop and look at the expansive Pacific Ocean views.Desktop Version

Where the humpback whale sings

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Oct. 25, 2023Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah

The Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument is an untamed wilderness of cliffs and canyons nestled in the heart of southern Utah. The Grand Staircase is a fascinating sequence of five majestic sandstone cliffs, rising approximately 1,675 metres across the expanse of the monument. Each step displays a different era in Earth"s geologic history, a showcase of time that is unrivalled by any other place on the planet. Archaeologists have found prehistoric artefacts, petrified wood, and fossils dating back over 75 million years ago, from the Cretaceous Period. In human history, the Ancestral Puebloan and Fremont people mastered the art of farming in this challenging terrain. They ingeniously constructed granaries to store and preserve their bountiful harvests. Today, it is a splendid getaway for nature enthusiasts and travellers seeking adventure.Desktop Version

Feb. 3, 2024Carnival of Venice

Don your tricorn hat and gilded disguise, it"s time to visit the Carnival of Venice, a centuries-old festival shrouded in mystique and beauty. This annual winter celebration combines revelry with anonymity, thanks to masks that often follow certain character archetypes such as the bauta, volto, Colombina and Zanni—the last two are borrowed from Italian commedia theatre. Over the course of the festivities, thousands of people take to the streets in elaborate costumes that imitate traditional 17th-century Venetian clothes. There are parades, parties and processions galore during the carnival, along with concerts and street performances, all of which last until Shrove Tuesday, which falls on February 13 this year. While revelling in the streets, you might pass by the Santa Maria della Salute, seen towards the back of today"s image, a baroque basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who was considered to be the protector of the Republic of Venice.Desktop Version

Oct. 28, 2023Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

In the town of Consuegra, the echoes of the adventures of Don Quixote—the hero of the Spanish epic novel by Miguel de Cervantes—still linger. This tourist destination in Castilla-La Mancha is famous for a small mountain range known as Cerro Calderico. The range is crowned with 12 white windmills, perhaps the very same that inspired Cervantes to picture them as an army of giants. With their stone walls and wooden blades, some of these windmills date back to the 16th century. Now, they are living relics of a bygone era when they were used to grind grain.Desktop Version

Look up, incoming…

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Oct. 1, 2023Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, British Columbia

Nestled in the pristine wilderness of British Columbia, Mount Assiniboine and its surrounding provincial park form a captivating alpine wonderland. Also known as the "Matterhorn of the Rockies", this majestic peak rises to 3,618 metres, commanding attention with its rugged grandeur. The name "Assiniboine" pays homage to the Indigenous Assiniboine people who once resided here. Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, a protected expanse spanning over 39,000 hectares, offers adventurers a captivating mix of sublime landscapes. The wilderness also fosters wildlife encounters, from elusive grizzlies, cougars to mountain goats. A network of trails weaves through this terrain, providing opportunities for hiking, skiing, and camping. Sheltered by the mountain, this park embodies the essence of untamed beauty in the heart of the Canadian Rockies.Desktop Version

Jul. 16, 2024Dinosaur Provincial Park

Amidst the rugged badlands of Alberta, Dinosaur Provincial Park attracts researchers and tourists from around the world. Established in 1955, the park spans over 72 square kilometres of badlands terrain characterised by eroded sedimentary rocks. This landscape houses a treasure trove of fossils dating back over 75 million years, offering scientists and visitors a glimpse into the Late Cretaceous period.Desktop Version

A galaxy full of stars

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Feb. 25, 2024Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island

Welcome to the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Located on the southern part of the island, this valley has art and history that echo through its green mountains, like Mount Prevost. The region is home to the band government of the Cowichan Tribes, the largest First Nations band in British Columbia. The city of Duncan has an impressive collection of indigenous art, including intricate carvings and paintings. While here, you must visit the collection of totem poles, which stand as towering symbols of indigenous history as they depict ancestral legends and clan symbols.Desktop Version

Mar. 14, 2024Happy Pi Day!

They say the only constant in life is change. In mathematics, however, there are many constants, and today, we"re celebrating perhaps the most famous of them all: pi. This tasty-sounding constant is the ratio of a circle"s circumference to its diameter, approximately 3.14159. Every March 14, mathematics fans across the world get baking to mark Pi Day—a celebration of both the mathematical constant π and its delicious homophone, pie. It began in 1988, when physicist Larry Shaw connected the date (3/14) with the first three digits of this constant. Today, mathematicians and enthusiasts celebrate Pi Day with pie eating and pi reciting. Did you know that when your clock strikes 1:59 today, you will be three decimal places closer to the real value of pi? Pi is everywhere, even in nature. Pictured here is a bodhi tree in the shape of the pi symbol at Wat Phra Ngam, a temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Whether you"re a math geek or just in it for the treats, Pi Day is for everyone to enjoy!Desktop Version

Apr. 7, 2024International Beaver Day

Known as nature"s engineers, beavers have been shaping the world for millions of years. Historically, North American beavers faced challenges from humans. They were hunted for their fur, and their "nuisance" freshwater abodes were destroyed. However, these buck-toothed, paddle-tailed dam builders have been gaining new respect in recent years. These animals have beneficial effects not only on water quality but also on land. With their iron-coated orange incisors, beavers fell trees, diligently constructing not just homes but habitats. Their dams create life-sustaining wetlands for countless species. Meanwhile, their lodges are masterpieces of security and comfort, the entrance strategically submerged to deter predators and provide privacy. The rodents have no trouble getting in, as they can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes. So, "woodn"t" it be nice to give a shout-out to these creatures on International Beaver Day?Desktop Version

Jul. 4, 2024Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site

Perched on the rugged coastline of Esquimalt Harbour, the Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site is a specimen of maritime history. Built on Fisgard Island in 1860, it was the first lighthouse on the west coast of Canada. The 15-metre bricked tower guided mariners through the treacherous Strait of Juan de Fuca. Operated by generations of dedicated keepers, it became automated in 1929 after which its light beamed in a "one second on/one second off" pattern also known as isophase light. Visitors today can explore the keeper"s house-turned-museum to uncover tales of shipwrecks and the intrepid lightkeepers who kept the flame alight, ensuring the safe passage of seafarers. The Fisgard Lighthouse continues to illuminate the past, captivating those who come to uncover its storied legacy.Desktop Version

Oct. 15, 2023European hedgehog

Brown, round, tiny, and spiny—say hello to the European hedgehog! While this is the only species of hedgehog in the United Kingdom, where our image was taken, 17 other species can be found across Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand. With leaves turning gold and the air getting chilly, this European hedgehog is all set to gain some weight for the upcoming season.Desktop Version

Mesmerising glass pyramids

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Dec. 17, 2023Bohemian waxwings

Among their feathered friends, Bohemian waxwings, clad in their elegant greyish-brown plumage, stand out as the wandering singers of the Northern Hemisphere. Their striking appearance comes from the contrast between their velvety grey body and the vibrant, waxy red tips gracing their secondary wing feathers. If alarmed, they freeze with their bill and neck pointing upwards. In winter, they feast upon cotoneaster, juniper, and rowan berries—the latter is their favourite. As spring casts its spell, these nomads engage in nesting. The female waxwings craft the nests, laying 2 to 6 bluish-grey eggs. The hatchlings are fed a diet of insects and fruits by both parents. One can easily spot these sociable birds, as they often gather in chirpy flocks in North America and Eurasia.Desktop Version

One giant leap for mankind

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Happy New Year’s from down under

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