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Ad-Deir, Petra, Jordan
Ad-Deir, Petra, Jordan
Carved into rose-red cliffs, Petra and its crown jewel, Ad-Deir, or "The Monastery," feel like stepping into a real-life Indiana Jones adventure. Tucked in the heart of Jordan"s arid desert landscapes, this ancient city once thrived as the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom in the 2nd century BCE. It was also a hub of the spice trade, connecting distant regions like China, Egypt, Greece, and India. The city was abandoned for around 500 years before being rediscovered in 1812, earning it the "Lost City" moniker.Desktop Version
World Honey Bee Day
World Honey Bee Day
Today we"re celebrating World Honey Bee Day, honoring the humble bee"s role in pollinating our crops and sharing honey goodness with us. It"s remarkable to consider that there are around 20,000 different species of bees in the world, but just eight species of honey bees. And it"s sobering to realize how fragile their existence is. Billions of honey bees have disappeared over the last 15 years in what"s known as colony collapse disorder. There"s no definitive explanation for the die-off, though scientists believe pesticides, loss of habitat, climate change, mite infestation, and disease are contributing factors. Now we need to reintroduce bees and other pollinators to safeguard our food system.Desktop Version
Virgin Islands National Park established
Virgin Islands National Park established
In 1956, businessman and conservationist Laurance Rockefeller saw the beauty of St. John, one of the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, and knew it had to be preserved. He donated more than 5,000 acres of land to the National Park Service, and today we"re marking the 68th anniversary of Virgin Islands National Park. Covering about 60% of St. John and 5,650 acres of submerged lands, the park boasts stunning white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and historic sites.Desktop Version
World Book Day
World Book Day
In the heart of Ireland, amidst the storied halls of the Library of Trinity College Dublin, scrolls and tomes whisper tales of long-gone eras. Today, these silent storytellers shine for World Book Day. Established by UNESCO in 1995, the day serves as a reminder of the importance of reading, publishing, and copyright. But why April 23? It marks the shared death anniversary of William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and several other literary greats. From the annual street festival exhibiting authors, poets, and literary organizations in Kensington, Maryland, to the distribution of book vouchers to kids in many countries around the world, this day comes alive with the rustle of turning pages. Interestingly, each year, UNESCO crowns one city as the "World Book Capital." The chosen city then carries out activities aimed at promoting reading for the awarded year; this year it is Strasbourg, France. So, have you picked out a book to read yet?Desktop Version
River otters at Acadia National Park, Maine
River otters at Acadia National Park, Maine
You "otter" know something about the creatures in today"s photo. They"re a pair of North American river otters swimming in Maine"s Acadia National Park. Technically members of the weasel family, these "water dogs" aren"t just locked into rivers. They can be found in other waterways and along the coasts of North America. A myopic animal with eyesight adapted to help with swimming, river otters will come right up on humans or boats, usually within a few feet.Desktop Version
International Sloth Day
International Sloth Day
Let"s all slow down to celebrate International Sloth Day, the perfect time to take things easy. With that friendly smile, you might think this pygmy three-toed sloth is inviting you to hang out, but these animals are not easy to find. Also known as the monk sloth or dwarf sloth, the species lives exclusively on a small island off Panama"s coast, Isla Escudo de Veraguas. Pygmy three-toed sloths are much smaller than other kinds of sloths, at about 20 inches long, and they weigh less than 8 pounds. Sadly, this species is classified as critically endangered. International Sloth Day aims to raise awareness of the planet"s slowest mammal and help them to survive and thrive in the wild, at their own pace.Desktop Version
Autumnal equinox
Autumnal equinox
Fall is in the air—officially. The September equinox marks the transition from summer to autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, while in the Southern Hemisphere, spring is just beginning. The term "equinox," derived from Latin, means "equal night." It marks one of two points during the year when the sun sits directly over the equator, and the Earth receives roughly equal amounts of daylight and darkness.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
Río Negro, Amazon basin, Brazil
Río Negro, Amazon basin, Brazil
From its source in Colombia, the Río Negro flows about 1,400 miles to become one of the largest tributaries of the Amazon River at the Meeting of Waters in Manaus, Brazil. It is also the largest blackwater river in the world, its water stained by decomposing organic matter that seeps in from swamps. These slow-moving, dark waters beautifully reflect the colors of the sky, including the rainbows which form over the Amazon basin, as seen here. The river also plays a crucial role in the ecosystem, as the home of many plants and animals, including the critically endangered Brazilian barefaced tamarin, the giant river otter, and nearly 700 species of fish.Desktop Version
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park
In the shadow of Mount Rainier, a carpet of wildflowers bursts into life. Every summer, the meadows around this mountain are colored with vivid shades of blooming subalpine flowers: purple asters, pink coralroot, and yellow tiger lilies, and more. Also known as Tahoma, at over 14,400 feet, Mount Rainier is the tallest mountain in the state of Washington. It is covered by 36 square miles of glaciers and permanent snowfields, the highest glacier ice cover of any mountain in the lower 48 states.Desktop Version
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Carved by time, wind, and water, Capitol Reef National Park showcases rust-hued cliffs and the natural beauty of the American West. The park was named after a series of Navajo sandstone domes said to resemble the US Capitol Building and the Waterpocket Fold, a huge ridge in the Earth"s crust, which was referred to as a reef by prospectors. This 100-mile-long monocline—a step-like fold—is thought to have formed around 50 to 70 million years ago, and is home to towering cliffs, narrow canyons, and colorful rock formations. Capitol Reef was established as a national monument in 1937 and was designated a national park on December 18, 1971.Desktop Version
Alaska Day
Alaska Day
On October 18, 1867, the Russian Empire transferred the territory of Alaska to the United States of America as a result of negotiations by US Secretary of State William Seward. Referred to as the Alaska Purchase, the United States paid 7.2 million dollars, about two cents per acre, for the land. Today, that date is known as Alaska Day, a commemoration that honors the rich history, cultural tapestry, untamed wilderness, and unwavering resilience of the state.Desktop Version
World Bee Day
World Bee Day
As flowers start to bloom, you"ll hear the soft hum of bees buzzing between them, drinking nectar, and gathering pollen to take back to their hives. Some pollen grains on their bodies get carried between flowering plants, helping them to reproduce, yield better crops, and support other species. The UN proclaimed May 20 as World Bee Day to highlight the importance of these pollinators and the threats they face, including habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use. Busy bees attend to over 90% of the world’s top 107 crops and are vital to our food supply, but populations worldwide have declined. So today, let"s support our industrious friends to help them go about their important work in peace.Desktop Version
Father s Day
Father s Day
Happy Father"s Day! To celebrate, we"re venturing into a tropical forest in Queensland, Australia, to visit one of nature"s most protective fathers, the southern cassowary, the largest of three species of this flightless bird. The cassowary has earned the title of the "world"s most dangerous bird" because of its sharp, dagger-like claws and aggressive behavior. Cassowaries, like this doting father and his chicks, are notorious for attacking and sometimes killing domestic animals and even humans. In the wild, adult birds are so belligerent that they have no natural predators. Their young, however, need some protection. That"s when dad steps in.Desktop Version
Wat Sri Sawai in Sukhothai Historical Park, Thailand
Wat Sri Sawai in Sukhothai Historical Park, Thailand
Welcome to Sukhothai Historical Park, one of Thailand"s most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage sites. The park is dotted with ancient temples, the remains of a palace, and towering Buddha statues—within its boundaries is the historic town of Sukhothai, an important metropolitan hub in the 13th and 14th centuries. The name translates as "the dawn of happiness" and you can spend many happy hours here, strolling among the beautiful lawns, trees, and lakes. The temple on our homepage is Wat Si Sawai, one of the oldest on the site, founded in the late 12th or early 13th century. Sukhothai was the capital of the first Kingdom of Siam more than 700 years ago and this historic site continues to offer a window onto what is sometimes seen as a golden age of Thai civilization.Desktop Version
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, Australia
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, Australia
Sun, sand, and sea come together to create the stunning beaches of the Whitsunday Islands, made up of 74 islands off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park surrounds and protects the islands, once home to the Ngaro people of Australia, an Aboriginal group known as the "canoe people" due to their seafaring lifestyle. Today, the island"s primary visitors are travelers, divers, campers, and adventure seekers. So, pack your sunscreen and explore the pristine white sand beaches on your next vacation down under!Desktop Version
Castle Stalker, Argyll, Scotland
Castle Stalker, Argyll, Scotland
Perched dramatically on a tidal islet in Loch Laich, Argyll, Castle Stalker is one of Scotland"s most picturesque and well-preserved medieval tower houses. Built around the 1440s by the Stewarts of Appin, its history includes royal visits and even a drunken wager that briefly transferred ownership to Clan Campbell. After falling into disrepair by the 19th century, it was lovingly restored in the mid-20th century and is still privately owned today. Visitors can explore this historic site on selected guided tours during the summer.Desktop Version
Tour de France
Tour de France
Presiding over City Hall Square on the Richshuset building in Copenhagen, "The Weather Girls" sculpture will help launch this year"s Tour de France. The race will see riders in Stage 1 today cycling past iconic landmarks of the Danish capital like Tivoli Gardens and the Little Mermaid statue. From here, the racers will ride through other parts of Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, and of course France before ending with the final stage on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on July 24.Desktop Version
Christmas market, St. Stephens Basilica, Budapest, Hungary
Christmas market, St. Stephens Basilica, Budapest, Hungary
As the holiday season kicks off, St. Stephen"s Basilica becomes the dazzling centerpiece of one of Budapest"s iconic Christmas markets. The fair buzzes with holiday spirit, offering a mix of Hungarian craft, festive décor, and local delicacies, capturing the essence of a traditional Christmas. The Advent Feast—an event held in the weeks leading up to Christmas and part of Hungary"s holiday traditions—invites guests to savor dishes like chimney cakes, stuffed cabbage, and goulash soup, while the scent of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts fills the air. A highlight for many is the 3D light show projected onto the basilica"s facade, a modern touch that brings this historic structure to life.Desktop Version
Russell lupines, Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
Russell lupines, Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
Welcome to Lake Tekapo, on New Zealand"s South Island, where the colorful spikes of flowering Russell lupines transform the landscape each November and December. The plants" blooming heads, made up of clusters of pea-like flowers, can reach up to 60 inches. While photographers flock here to capture the varied hues of purple, blue, and yellow, these striking plants are controversial. Native to North America, they are considered an invasive species here, growing in dense stands and boxing out other flora. While these plants might be appealing to tourists, they can create a negative imbalance in the region"s ecosystem.Desktop Version
Molokini Crater, Maui, Hawaii
Molokini Crater, Maui, Hawaii
Today we"re at Molokini Crater. This pleasant crescent in the Pacific Ocean lies in the "Alalākeiki Channel between the Hawaiian islands of Maui and Kaho"olawe. The islet is all that remains of a volcano that erupted about 230,000 years ago. According to Hawaiian mythology, Pele the fire goddess was in love with a man named Mo"o. The trouble was that Mo"o was in love with another woman. Pele"s revenge was typically violent: She cut her rival in two, her body becoming Molokini, while her head became Pu"u Olai, a cinder cone on Maui.Desktop Version
International Day for Biosphere Reserves
International Day for Biosphere Reserves
UNESCO designated November 3, 2022, the first annual International Day for Biosphere Reserves. Biosphere reserves are vast areas around the world used to promote biodiversity, cultural diversity, environmentally sustainable economic development, and research and education on how humans can coexist with nature.Desktop Version
Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
In the Spanish town of Consuegra, echoes linger of the adventures of Don Quixote, the hero of Miguel de Cervantes" epic novel. This tourist destination in Castilla-La Mancha is famous for its rocky ridge, known as Cerro Calderico, crowned with 12 white windmills. The windmills are thought to have inspired Cervantes to write the famous scene in which Don Quixote mistakes them for an army of giants. With their stone walls and wooden blades, some date back to the 16th century, when they were built to grind grain.Desktop Version
Satla marshland in Bangladesh
Satla marshland in Bangladesh
There may be a more peaceful, stress-free job somewhere, but we wager that the farmers harvesting water lilies and gliding along the river in Satla, Bangladesh, might have that locked up. The flowers bloom during the seasonal flood from August to November, cloaking an incredible 15 square miles of wetlands in gorgeous, fragrant pink. The village of Satla, in the Barisal District of south-central Bangladesh, is known as the capital of "shapla," or water lilies, for obvious reasons.Desktop Version
World Art Day
World Art Day
To celebrate World Art Day, we"re taking a look at one of the greatest triumphs (pun intended) of public art—last fall"s "L"Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped," by the late artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Completed and staged 16 months after Christo"s death at age 84, "Wrapped" was the fruition of an idea 60 years in the making. On view for 16 days from Saturday, September 18 to Sunday, October 3, 2021, the project required 270,000 square feet of recyclable silvery-blue polypropylene fabric that completely covered the monument. The fabric glistened and glimmered with the changing light of Paris. The pleated fabric was held fast to the arch by nearly 2 miles of red rope.Desktop Version