This wintry view comes from Oregon’s Painted Hills, part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and home to one of the most complete fossil records on the planet. Paleontologists have uncovered fossils here that date as far back as 44 million years ago, when this region had a hot, wet, subtropical climate, home to crocodiles and rhino-like plant eaters. And what’s above ground here is equally impressive. This is only a glimpse of the portion of the monument called the Painted Hills, named for its vivid colors that are a result of layers of sediment from various geologic periods.
There’s treasure in them thar hills
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Welcome to the Year of the Pig
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Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota
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World Population Day
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Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico
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Roques de Benet, Els Ports Natural Park, Catalonia, Spain
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Birthplace of Roman emperors
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The last thing seen by Wile E. Coyote
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International Day for Biosphere Reserves
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Turning darkness into light
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National Napping Day
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Mount Sopris, Colorado
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The most wonderful day of the year. Period.
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World Otter Day
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The mountaintop of toppled gods
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Let’s go mothing
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Boating on the Bojo
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La Rocque Harbour, Island of Jersey
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Stompin’ with the Big Chief
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I m here! Take a look at me!
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International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
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Beware the Ides of March
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New Year’s Day in the land of the rising sun
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Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
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World Rainforest Day
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International Archaeology Day
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New Years Eve in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Wild lupines
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World Art Day
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Siblings that play together…
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Marseille welcomes the Olympic torch