Known in North America as caribou, reindeer are built to live in freezing Arctic regions like northern Norway, where this herd was photographed under the transfixing swirl of the aurora borealis, or northern lights. Reindeer have evolved unique features that help them thrive in these harsh environments. Their noses are adapted to warm the air they breathe before it enters their lungs, which helps maintain a steady body temperature even in the coldest of weather. And most of their bodies, including their hooves, are covered with thick, dense fur to keep them well insulated. In fact, they are more likely to overheat then freeze—so when they"re flying through the starry skies tonight, they"ll be feeling snugger than Santa Claus in his red velvet suit.
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Today in History
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Folegandros Island, Cyclades, Greece
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Nursing the world to health
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Chapel of St. Michel on Lake Serre-Ponçon, Hautes-Alpes, France
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The tortoise and the finch
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Take this for a spin...
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Hello, harbinger of spring
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Dancers perform ‘Revelations’
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Colorful cows of the reef
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In the Highlands for Saint Andrew s Day
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Wychwood Forest, Oxfordshire, England
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Victory Day in Valletta
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Coral Reef Awareness Week
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Just a couple of yellow-billed hornbills
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Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia
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Once upon a midafternoon dreary…
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Father s Day
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National Trails Day
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Sweetheart Abbey, Scotland
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On the rebirth of the Olympic Games
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Vote!
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An island oasis in the Indian Ocean
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A wonder in winter
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Celebrating Helsinki’s birthday at the Kiasma Museum
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Celebrating Charles Darwin
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A bohemian feline
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A century since Tut s tomb was discovered
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Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
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Happy Boxing Day!
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Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona
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World Penguin Day