’Chess on ice’ May 8, 2019

’Chess on ice’

Today our photo comes from Naseby, on New Zealand’s South Island. Winter in New Zealand begins on June 1—in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are inverted from our own. Soon, the lakes in Naseby will freeze over, creating 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—with the fourth leg of the months-long event beginning today in Beijing, China. This ultimate bonspiel unites teams from around the globe, and on May 12, 2019, we’ll know which nation swept the competition. (Curling joke!)

© David Wall/Danita Delimont

palette

Today in History

May 8, 2018Raise your hand for Teacher Appreciation Day
May 8, 2020Victory in Europe, 75 years ago
May 8, 2021World Migratory Bird Day
May 8, 2022Mother s Day
May 8, 2023Arches National Park, Utah
May 8, 2024Marseille welcomes the Olympic torch
May 8, 2025World Donkey Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Apr 9, 2018The Lena Delta Wildlife Reserve in Siberia, Russia
Dec 23, 2018Make your list and check it twice
Sep 21, 2025Sea Otter Awareness Week
Apr 13, 2023Hitsujiyama Park, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Mar 9, 2018The Door County Coastal Byway in Wisconsin
May 23, 2022World Turtle Day
Nov 4, 2018And they’re off!
May 19, 2019High trekking season in Upper Mustang
Jun 9, 2020Gem State views
Mar 19, 2026Short-beaked echidna, Adelaide Hills, Australia
Apr 15, 2021Jackie Robinson Day
Jan 14, 2023Feast of the Donkey
Jan 5, 2021Flying high on National Bird Day
Jun 3, 2021Get on your bike and ride
Jun 26, 2021Spectacular views below!
Jan 20, 2024Penguin Awareness Day
Oct 10, 2018Space is for everyone
Jan 4, 2025Bản Giốc–Detian Falls, Vietnam
Aug 27, 2020Rocks on the move
Nov 8, 2018Manatees rebound
May 27, 2018Travel Sunday: San Francisco
Mar 15, 2021Every day is Napping Day for this screech owl
Oct 11, 2020A monastery in the mountain
Oct 6, 2022International Geodiversity Day
Nov 20, 2020Atop the Needle of Chamonix
Oct 30, 2018A species worth defending
Aug 22, 2025Rolling hills of the Palouse, Washington
Dec 30, 2021Westerheversand Lighthouse
Sep 5, 2021Venice s grand regatta
Aug 8, 2018In celebration of cats