Really, there’s only one way to celebrate Hot Air Balloon Day properly. But if you can’t catch a ride in a basket under a giant balloon today, know that the idea dates back at least to 3rd-century China, where paper lanterns were used as military signals. Fast forward to 18th-century France, where two paper-making brothers, the Montgolfiers, launched unmanned hot air balloons. Then, to great fanfare, they tried sending up a sheep, duck, and chicken, and finally, Étienne Montgolfier took a ride. Designs have improved since then, resulting in the standard hot air balloon seen here.
Up, up, and away for Hot Air Balloon Day
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Fall color sweeps across the West
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National Park Week: Canyonlands National Park, Utah
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Mooncake time
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The Vestibule at Diocletian s Palace, Split, Croatia
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Greetings from Asbury Park
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Computer science on the page
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An ice cap-puccino
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Birds of a feather
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Siblings that play together…
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Is this Minecraft headquarters?
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Celebrating National Panda Day
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A circular celebration
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A peek behind the royal curtain
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Protecting wildlife today and tomorrow
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Gone ‘lightseeing’ in Berlin
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Yellow-eyed penguins, Moeraki, New Zealand
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Where the wildflowers grow
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Where the glow of the holidays lingers
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Pretty in pink, and purple, and red…
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Let s get lost