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Feb. 2, 2025Groundhog Day

It"s Groundhog Day… again. Today, while the famous Punxsutawney Phil gets all the attention in the United States, Canada"s own groundhog, Wiarton Willie, is the star of the local Wiarton Willie Festival in Bruce County, Ontario. We rely on the prognostication skills of Willie to determine if winter will hang on. Legend has it that if he emerges from his burrow on February 2 and sees his own shadow, Canadians brace for an extended winter; no shadow means an early spring is on the way. Though it is celebrated mostly in Ontario, other places like Nova Scotia and Quebec also take part in the fun. The tradition has deep roots, first appearing in the early 1800s when European settlers brought similar customs to North America. Historically, Europeans celebrated today as the first day of spring, and Germans originally watched badgers and other small animals for signs of seasonal change important to farmers.Desktop Version

May 26, 2025Mount Hamilton, San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States

Drive up Mount Hamilton in the Bay Area, California, United States, and immerse yourself in stunning views and rich history. The 31-kilometre Mount Hamilton Road is part of State Route 130. It is loved by cyclists and motorcyclists for its long climbs and sparse traffic. The road, built in 1875-76, was designed to transport materials to the Lick Observatory, the world"s first permanently occupied mountaintop observatory. At the summit, standing at 1,300 metres, you can see as far as Yosemite National Park or the Sierra Nevada on a clear day.Desktop Version

Apr. 23, 2024World Book Day

In the heart of Ireland, amidst the storied halls of the Library of Trinity College Dublin, scrolls and tomes whisper tales of long-gone eras. Today, these silent storytellers shine for World Book Day. Established by UNESCO in 1995, the day serves as a reminder of the importance of reading, publishing and copyright. But why April 23? It marks the shared death anniversary of William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes and several other literary greats. From book signing event around Canada, to the distribution of book vouchers to kids in many countries around the world, this day comes alive with the rustle of turning pages. Interestingly, each year, UNESCO crowns one city as the "World Book Capital." The chosen city then carries out activities aimed at promoting reading for the awarded year; this year it is Strasbourg, France. So, have you picked out a book to read yet?Desktop Version

Black sands in a tropical paradise

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Oct. 21, 2023International Archaeology Day

International Archaeology Day, celebrated on the third Saturday of October, is a tribute to the fascinating world of discovering our past through ancient sites and artifacts. Archaeological organisations across the world present events such as scavenger hunts, lectures, and interactive workshops, all programs to awaken your inner Indiana Jones. This day also piques our curiosity about the mysteries of the past and teaches us about societies and cultural heritage.Desktop Version

Oct. 5, 2023World Teachers Day

World Teachers" Day, observed on October 5, celebrates our educators, professors, instructors, and all teachers who dedicate their lives to transmitting knowledge, skills and experience. The commemoration is based on the 1966 Paris Conference, held on the same day, in which the adoption of the "1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers" was discussed. The 1966 Recommendation not only acknowledges the essential role of teachers, but also establishes a framework for their rights, responsibilities, and the standards that define their craft.Desktop Version

Living rock

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Jun. 8, 2025World Oceans Day

You can"t talk about life on Earth without talking about the ocean. This year, World Oceans Day is being celebrated in Nice, France, just ahead of the UN Ocean Conference starting tomorrow. Officially recognised by the United Nations since 2008, it began as an idea at the 1992 Global Forum, a parallel event at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. This year"s theme is "WONDER: Sustaining What Sustains Us." It highlights how the ocean supports life as we know it—influencing weather, food chains and economies.Desktop Version

Jun. 2, 2024Annas hummingbird

Meet the tiny, feathered acrobat that flitters in the skies. Anna"s hummingbird was named after a French courtier, Anna de Belle Massena, Duchess of Rivoli. We can enjoy the year-round presence of these birds in Canada since they can withstand cooler climates and are able to slow down their metabolism, a state known as torpor. Anna"s hummingbirds, weighing less than a loonie, have a wingspan of 12 centimetres. They can beat their wings over 40-50 times per second, enabling them to hover and even fly backwards with ease.Desktop Version

Reflecting its stylish past today

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Happy Thanksgiving!

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Apr. 20, 2024Grand Prismatic Spring at Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA

In Wyoming, US, you might want to visit Yellowstone National Park, which was the world"s first national park. Established in 1872 after the Protection Act was signed by the then-president of the US, Ulysses S. Grant, the park is known for its flora and fauna—including Rocky Mountain wolves and grizzly and black bears—super volcano and many geothermal features, including the one we see in today"s image. The Grand Prismatic Spring is in the Midway Geyser Basin. Its display of colours is caused by microbial mats, multi-layered sheets of microorganisms, ranging from deep blues and greens to fiery oranges and reds. There is so much waiting to be explored out there, so gather your friends and get out into the wild.Desktop Version

Frosty Finland

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Sep. 29, 2023Mid-Autumn Festival

As summer"s warmth gently yields to autumn"s cool embrace, the Mid-Autumn Festival lights up the sky on the full moon of the year"s eighth lunar month in the Chinese calendar. Celebrated since China"s Shang dynasty, the festival honours the harvest season, during which families reunite to enjoy delectable mooncakes, admire the beauty of the moon, express gratitude, and tell tales of the Moon Goddess Chang"e, the Chinese goddess of the moon, and her husband Hou Yi, a legendary archer. Jiaxiu Tower was built in 1598, so it has witnessed many Mid-Autumn Festivals over the centuries. Under the moonlit sky, lanterns adorn the tower, illuminating the streets and symbolizing hope, good fortune, and unity.Desktop Version

So close, yet so far

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A bridge that holds up history

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Jan. 7, 2025Moeraki Boulders, South Island, New Zealand

Are you ready to rock the new year? Today is Old Rock Day, a day to celebrate and learn about ancient rocks and fossils. Although rocks are common, few of us take the time to consider how remarkable they are. Forged in volcanoes or moulded by millennia of pressure, these solid masses of minerals hold the key to understanding how our planet formed. Rocks can also contain fossils, the remnants of long-extinct organisms. Canada is home to some jaw-dropping geological wonders. Take Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick, for example. These giant, flowerpot-like formations were carved by the Bay of Fundy"s massive tides, which rise and fall by up to 14 metres daily. Then there"s the Mingan Archipelago in Quebec. This collection of limestone monoliths, shaped by waves and wind, is over 450 million years old.Desktop Version

Aug. 31, 2023Saguaro cacti, Ironwood Forest National Monument, Arizona

Massive succulents against a mountainous backdrop, underneath the sun-kissed sky—it"s prickly perfection. Pictured here are saguaro (pronounced "sah-wah-roh") cacti at Arizona"s Ironwood Forest National Monument in the Sonoran Desert of North America. Even if you haven"t seen one in person, when you hear the word cactus, you"re probably thinking of saguaro—tall, green, cylindrical, with arms pointing upward. Though they are slow growers, these plants have been known to live over 200 years and reach enormous heights, with one setting the record at 23.8 metres. Another saguaro cactus, known as "Grandaddy," survived in the sweltering desert for about 300 years, eventually succumbing to old age in the early 1990s. Cacti may not be for everyone, but they tend to grow on you (figuratively, of course)!Desktop Version

Jul. 12, 2024Mount Rainier National Park

Under the glacial gaze of Mount Rainier in the state of Washington, USA, a carpet of wildflowers bursts into life. Every summer, the meadows around this mountain are coloured with vivid shades of blooming subalpine flowers: purple asters, pink coralroot and yellow tiger lilies are just some of the plants on show here. Also known as Tahoma, at over 4,300 metres, Mount Rainier is the tallest mountain in the state. It is covered by 93 square kilometres of glaciers and permanent snowfields, making it the mountain with the highest glacier cover in the lower 48 states.Desktop Version

Jewel of the Adriatic

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Alps of the sea

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An oasis in the desert

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