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Indigo bunting
Indigo bunting
This time of year, from late spring to summer, male adult indigo buntings take it up a notch and turn a brilliant deep blue. They fly up to a perch—like our cheerful fellow atop a branch—and sing from morning to night to defend their territory from other males and to catch the attention of females. Indigo buntings are members of the "blue" clade (subgroup) of the cardinal family.Desktop Version
World Environment Day
World Environment Day
The Swedish wilderness is a fitting place to visit on World Environment Day, for it was in Sweden that the United Nations launched the annual observance 50 years ago, in 1972. This is Rapadalen (Rapa Valley), a 22-mile-long valley in Sarek National Park in the pristine mountains of northern Sweden. Surrounded by steep mountains, the Rapa Valley is considered one of Europe"s most enchanting landscapes. The remote, high-alpine region is beautiful to be sure, but it"s only recommended for experienced and well-equipped hikers. The weather is severe and unpredictable, and there are no accommodations available for tourists.Desktop Version
National Trails Day
National Trails Day
Whether you"re a leisurely day walker or a hardcore hiker, there"s a US National Trail with your name on it. Thankfully the trails in the national network are categorized as "Scenic," "Historic," or "Recreational" to simplify things. Probably the most famous pathways are the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail (both designated "Scenic" trails), which were the first to be officially named to the National Trails System when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the system into law in 1968.Desktop Version
World Bicycle Day
World Bicycle Day
On this World Bicycle Day, we spy a pair of cyclists cruising across Uranium Arch, a natural rock arch in the desert near Moab, Utah. Moab is a hotspot for mountain bikers due to its sprawling, intersecting trail system and stunning views. Popular trails take bicyclists over landscapes of petrified sand dunes and eroded remnants of an ancient seabed.Desktop Version
Queen Elizabeth s Platinum Jubilee
Queen Elizabeth s Platinum Jubilee
Any royal watcher will tell you that the Brits know how to throw a good party. For Queen Elizabeth II"s Platinum Jubilee—she"s been monarch for an amazing 70 years—a slew of events are planned, hitting all the notes from pomp and ceremony to picnics on the village green. Of course, the Trooping of the Colour will take center stage today as the official birthday parade, with 1,400 soldiers in full military regalia, 200 horses, and 400 military band musicians. The royal family will watch the parade and then turn their gaze to the skies as the Royal Air Force flies past. The rest of the jubilee week will include a service of thanksgiving at St. Paul"s Cathedral in London, a live concert here at Buckingham Palace, and a special pageant featuring people from throughout Britain.Desktop Version
World Reef Day
World Reef Day
Marovo Lagoon in the Solomon Islands is the largest saltwater lagoon in the world. Protected by a double barrier reef, it"s home to unique marine life and coral, making it a bucket-list destination for divers. The beauty and diversity of species contained within its pristine 270 square miles are the perfect inspiration for World Reef Day, observed every year on June 1 to bring awareness to this vital but largely unseen part of our natural world. Reef Day also kicks off World Oceans Month, a time to celebrate and learn more about these indispensable ecosystems.Desktop Version
World Parrot Day
World Parrot Day
World Parrot Day was started in 2004 and is celebrated every May 31 to bring attention to the birds" plight in the wild. These long-lived, charismatic, intelligent, loyal, and affectionate creatures are threatened by habitat loss, competition from invasive species, and trapping for the pet trade. Indeed, the qualities that make them darlings of the animal world also make them attractive as pets for people.Desktop Version
Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Today, on Memorial Day, many will no doubt stand before this fountain on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Dedicated 18 years ago as our national World War II Memorial, it"s become one of the most popular sites in the nation"s capital, and now receives more than 4 million visitors each year. To the west, toward the setting sun, is the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial. To the east, unseen here, is the Washington Monument.Desktop Version
Hyalite Creek at Custer Gallatin National Forest, Montana
Hyalite Creek at Custer Gallatin National Forest, Montana
Today we"re taking a little fishing trip just south of Bozeman, Montana, to Hyalite Creek, which runs through Custer Gallatin National Forest. This is one of the most heavily visited recreation areas in Montana, especially for those who like to fish. Late-1800s logging operations in the surrounding forest damaged the habitat for trout in Hyalite Creek, but stream restoration projects have increased trout populations to such an extent that this is now considered a world-class destination for fly fishing.Desktop Version
Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, Australia
Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, Australia
Aboriginal Australians have lived in this area for more than 20,000 years. But only recently did the rest of the world learn of the extraordinary terrain of the mountains known as the Bungle Bungle Range. In 1982, a nature-documentary crew was filming in remote areas within the Kimberley region of Western Australia and "discovered" the little-known mountain range. Today it is the most popular aspect of Purnululu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Desktop Version
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
Few structures achieve the status of the Golden Gate Bridge—so recognizable that it needs no introduction. Opened on this day in 1937, the bridge was a marvel of engineering, built to withstand ferocious winds above and swirling currents below. Its construction was embraced by the local population because it would finally connect the rising metropolis of San Francisco to communities in Marin County and all that lay north. Before the bridge was completed, a ferry was the only way across the Golden Gate, the mile-wide strait that connects the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay. Building a bridge to cross the span would be no small feat, and many thought it impossible.Desktop Version
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica
Today we"re taking a walk through the clouds to visit one of the most beautiful and biodiverse places on the planet. Costa Rica"s Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is in the Tilarán mountain range 5,000 feet above sea level. Hundreds of animal species and thousands of insect and plant species call the forest home. Diligent nature lovers could count nearly 700 types of butterflies and 500 species of orchids during a visit. Famous in the scientific community, the forest also attracts more than 70,000 tourists a year.Desktop Version
The Alhambra in Granada, Spain
The Alhambra in Granada, Spain
The winds of history have long blown through the beautiful halls of the Alhambra. Though it had been the location of fortresses as far back as the 800s, construction of the Alhambra (Arabic for "red castle") began in 1238 under the rule of Muhammad I Ibn al-Ahmar, founder of the Emirate of Granada. Ensuing leaders would continue construction of the complex, turning it into one of the finest examples of architecture from the historic Islamic world. The palace was the final hold of the Moors before the completion of the Christian Reconquista in 1492, when the Alhambra became the royal court of Ferdinand and Isabella. They greeted Christopher Columbus there later that same year.Desktop Version
European Day of Parks
European Day of Parks
Enjoy swimming, snorkeling, diving, or sailing? How about soaking in a spectacular natural setting? Croatia"s Kornati National Park checks all the boxes. The 84-square-mile park protects 89 islands, islets, and reefs off Croatia"s scenic Adriatic Coast.Desktop Version
World Turtle Day
World Turtle Day
That"s a Florida red-bellied turtle celebrating World Turtle Day with a dip in the clear waters of Rainbow Springs State Park in Florida. This river turtle species spends the bulk of its day basking in Florida"s abundant sunshine and chomping on vegetation, but it"s nice to cool off with a swim, too. Red-bellied turtles have been known to sneak into alligator nests to lay eggs. If you"re going to find someone to protect your kids, you might as well make it an alligator!Desktop Version
International Day for Biological Diversity
International Day for Biological Diversity
On this day when we honor all the world"s species and their interdependence, the Burchell"s zebra and the cattle egret give us a great example of commensalism, a type of symbiosis in which one species gets a benefit without helping or hurting the other species: As the zebra grazes in the grass, it stirs up insects for the egret to eat.Desktop Version
Albion Falls, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Albion Falls, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
The spectacular Albion Falls is just one of more than 130 waterfalls that give the city of Hamilton in Ontario, Canada, its sobriquet: Waterfall Capital of the World. The city eagerly welcomes visitors to share in its natural beauty, and there are hiking and biking trails around the waterfalls as well as guided tours. On the edge of Lake Ontario, Hamilton lies 54 miles northwest of Niagara, New York, a town that constantly brags about its own waterfall.Desktop Version
World Bee Day
World Bee Day
It"s World Bee Day, and we"re doffing our caps in thanks to the world"s lesser known "essential workers." According to the UN, three out of four crops across the globe producing fruits or seeds for use as human food depend, at least in part, on bees and other pollinators. And tens of thousands of flowering plants, like the crocuses in today"s photo, would not exist if it weren"t for the little buzzers. A quote often misattributed to Albert Einstein suggests humans would have only four years left to live if the bees go extinct. No matter who said it, the message is clear: Our livelihood is intimately tied to the survival of bees. And that connection is of critical importance now, as bee colonies continue to struggle after more than 20 years of mass die-offs, a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder.Desktop Version
Glass footbridge in Zhangjiajie, China
Glass footbridge in Zhangjiajie, China
Just 13 days after the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge opened in 2016 in Hunan, China, it was forced to close. Not because it was faulty but because the attendance rates far exceeded capacity. Built to hold 800 people safely at any given time, daily attendance was expected to be around 8,000. When 80,000 visitors showed up each day after it opened, authorities needed some time to reevaluate what exactly they had. Parking, ticketing, and customer service were boosted before the bridge reopened.Desktop Version
International Museum Day
International Museum Day
To mark International Museum Day, we"re featuring a destination that hasn"t (yet!) achieved the fame of the Louvre or the Getty or the Met, although it"s as unmistakable in appearance as any of them. This relatively small wonder proves that inspiration can be found in many places, including a suburb of Kansas City. At 42,000 square feet, the Museum at Prairiefire in Overland Park, Kansas, is about 1/50th the size of the American Museum of Natural History in New York, with which it has a partnership. But to those who find beauty and truth behind its walls, Prairiefire is no less enriching.Desktop Version
Salt ponds of Maras, Peru
Salt ponds of Maras, Peru
Peru"s spectacularly beautiful Cusco region has plenty of Incan wonders waiting to be rediscovered. Take, for example, these ancient salt ponds, stepping their way down the mountainside in Maras, nestled in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You"ll find more than 6,000 of the little salt pans near Maras, many of them owned and mined by local families.Desktop Version
Burrowing owls
Burrowing owls
Many things distinguish burrowing owls from their owl cousins. Instead of sleeping in trees, they make their homes in the ground, often taking over tunnels abandoned by ground squirrels or prairie dogs. They"re also one of the smallest owl species, measuring 9 or 10 inches and weighing less than a half-pound.Desktop Version
Lunar eclipse
Lunar eclipse
If you"re lucky enough to find yourself under a cloudless sky tonight, you"ll be able to see one of our solar system"s great wonders, a full lunar eclipse, also known as a "blood moon." The spooky nickname derives from the reddish hue the moon takes on when Earth casts its shadow upon it. Featured here is a blood moon over the Swiss Alps. A full lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth and moon align perfectly with the sun, and the moon falls directly behind Earth"s shadow. When Earth falls behind the moon"s shadow, a solar eclipse occurs.Desktop Version
Windmills in Kinderdijk, the Netherlands
Windmills in Kinderdijk, the Netherlands
This stretch of windmills is one of the best-known Dutch tourist sites—you probably recognize them from postcards and calendars. Both iconic and historic, the windmills in the village of Kinderdijk have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. The Netherlands has about 1,200 windmills, though only 300 or so are still operational. Over the years they"ve played a major role in pumping sea water away from the nation"s reclaimed land. Keeping the water at bay is a perennial issue for the flat Low Countries, where much of the ground is below sea level.Desktop Version
International Nurses Day
International Nurses Day
While the uniform style has changed since these American Red Cross nurses proudly posed together in Paris, France, in 1919, the medical care and kindness provided by nurses the world over has remained steadfast. Today we"re celebrating International Nurses Day, which is observed on May 12 each year to turn a well-deserved spotlight on nurses and the contributions they make to society. The theme for 2022"s observance is "Nurses: A voice to lead—Invest in nursing and respect rights to secure global health." It"s a fitting topic, especially when nurses have borne the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more than two years, nurses have suffered from critical staffing shortages while facing a health crisis of tremendous proportions. For all that nurses have endured and for all they"ve contributed to our personal and collective well-being, we offer our heartfelt thanks.Desktop Version