Officially, summer began on December 1 here in New Zealand (where the first days of March, June, September, and December respectively are considered the start of autumn, winter, spring, and summer). But this icy view of Naseby, on New Zealand’s South Island, shows that harsh winters here offer great conditions for outdoor curling, or what competitors call ‘chess on ice.’ And when there’s a multi-game tournament going on, that’s a ‘bonspiel’ in curling lingo. This year marks the first ever Curling World Cup. The second leg of the four-leg event brings the curlers to Omaha, Nebraska, today through December 9. Canada’s teams won the first leg, in Suzhou, China. Will they face stiffer competition in the Cornhusker State?
’Chess on ice’
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Southern right whale
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Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve, Estonia
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These patterns tell a story
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Vietnam’s new bridge deserves a big hand
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Fall for Chile
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At ease, it’s Armed Forces Day
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Great Backyard Bird Count
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From pirate port to nature preserve
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Composite of photographs from the Apollo 15 mission
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In search of roadside attractions on ‘America’s Highway’
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Arambol Beach, Goa, India
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50 years of the Endangered Species Act
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Autumn in Piedmont
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Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
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Svolvaer, Lofoten Islands, Norway
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Celebrating Native American Heritage Month
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A Carpathian Christmas celebration
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Astronomy Day
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National Hummingbird Day
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A fair that s star-studded
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Spring comes to the Diablo foothills
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Siblings Day
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Sailing across the ice
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Blue linckia sea stars in Papua New Guinea
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A winter wonderland in Northeast China
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Celebrating Norwegian Constitution Day
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A hermitage with a view
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Go with the rainbow flow
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The Alhambra in Granada, Spain
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Hut, hut, hike!