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Channel Country, Australia
Channel Country, Australia
Narrow waterways run like veins through the Australian Outback"s Channel Country, a sprawling, ancient flood plain named after its crisscrossing river channels. The huge flat area is transformed from a parched desert canvas to a vibrant tapestry of wildflowers when rainfall is abundant. Indigenous Australians have lived off this land for tens of thousands of years and some offer tours and classes about how to survive in the Outback. This unspoiled region is also home to a bonanza of wildlife—kangaroos that bounce along the plains, strutting emus, and preening purple-crowned fairywrens. If you"re lucky, you might even spot a bilby—a nocturnal marsupial with rabbit-like ears. So, are you ready to "channel" your inner explorer?Desktop Version
Celebrating Festivus
Celebrating Festivus
"A Festivus for the rest of us!" This is the unofficial motto of a non-commercial alternative to Christmas. Celebrated on December 23, Festivus was popularized by the TV show "Seinfeld," although it was actually invented by the family of one of the series" writers. The celebration centers around the unadorned aluminum Festivus pole. After dinner, the traditional Festivus "airing of grievances" gets underway. This consists of telling friends and family the ways they"ve disappointed you over the year. This can provide some much-needed catharsis at what can be a stressful time of year. The day traditionally concludes with feats of strength. Once the head of the household has been pinned, Festivus is officially over. Those who embrace this farcical holiday welcome the opportunity to let off some steam amid the Christmas build-up chaos—much like these red-crowned cranes in Hokkaido, Japan.Desktop Version
The Monastery of Roussanou, Greece
The Monastery of Roussanou, Greece
Welcome to the Roussanou Monastery, nestled amidst the towering cliffs of the Meteora rock formation in Thessaly, northern Greece. Roussanou is one of the six monasteries that remain active in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Despite the construction difficulties, 24 monasteries were founded on these "columns of the sky" in the 14th and 15th centuries.Desktop Version
Happy Welsh New Year!
Happy Welsh New Year!
Who says New Year"s Day has to be on January 1? In Wales, the clocks turn back—figuratively—to celebrate Hen Galan, or the "Old New Year," on January 13. As part of this tradition, Calennig, meaning "New Year"s gift" in Welsh, plays a central role, linking the celebration to customs from the Julian calendar era. Even after most of the world switched to the Gregorian calendar in 1582, some Welsh communities clung to their old ways. Traditionally, the day involves children going door-to-door, singing songs, and offering good wishes in exchange for gifts like coins, food, or sweets. A unique feature is its clove-decorated apples. These aren"t for snacking, though; they"re miniature symbols of luck and prosperity.Desktop Version
World Jellyfish Day
World Jellyfish Day
Drifting along our shores and into our calendar, it"s World Jellyfish Day! Jellyfish can be found in all the world"s oceans, in all shapes and sizes. There are about 2,000 species, all lacking hearts, bones, and brains. Pacific sea nettle jellyfish, seen here, have vibrant golden-brown coloring and long tentacles and inhabit the coastal waters of California and Oregon. Moon jellyfish are pale with short tentacles, and, in an appropriate twist, went into orbit aboard the space shuttle Columbia in 1991, to help scientists study their unique biology. Jellyfish play a vital role in the ocean"s food chain, as the main food source for many animals, including sea turtles. Their numbers are impacted by climate change, marine pollution, and overfishing, and in turn have reverberating effects on sea life around them.Desktop Version
Pollinator Week
Pollinator Week
It"s lunch time for these beautiful monarch butterflies, which like to feed on clusters of colorful wildflowers. While they dine out on nectar, they get a light dusting of pollen, which is then spread to other flowers they land on. This process is pollination, transferring pollen from the male part of a flower to the female part, and is crucial for growing many of our fruits and vegetables. It improves the quality and quantity of crops and increases harvest yields. Nearly $20 billion of goods are produced in the US alone each year, because of pollination.Desktop Version
Sonoma Coast State Park, California
Sonoma Coast State Park, California
Sonoma Coast State Park offers a picturesque retreat with its sandy beaches, natural arches, and secluded coves. Established in 1934, the park encompasses 17 miles of Northern California coastline between Jenner and Bodega Bay. Wildlife enthusiasts can spot seals, sea lions, whales, and a variety of birds like towhees, warblers, finches, sparrows, and orioles. History buffs will enjoy exploring the sea stack formation with rubbing marks believed to have been made by mammoths that roamed the area 40,000 years ago. The park is also home to historical sites like Bodega Head, where Russians built a fort in the early 1800s.Desktop Version
Polar Bear Week
Polar Bear Week
Polar Bear Week champions the Arctic"s majestic predator, one of nature"s greatest hunters. Established by Polar Bears International, it highlights the challenges they face due to climate change, particularly the rapid loss of Arctic Sea ice. At this time of year, polar bears gather in Churchill, Canada—known as the "polar bear capital of the world." Here, bears wait for Hudson Bay to freeze so they can start hunting for seals, their primary food source.Desktop Version
Happy Holi!
Happy Holi!
It"s Holi; get ready to become a walking rainbow and sprinkle joy wherever you go! This festival of colors, spring, and love is a cornerstone of Indian and Nepali culture. It is also celebrated in other countries with large Hindu populations, such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, the US, the UK, Suriname, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Festivities last for a night and a day, starting on the evening of the last full moon in the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, which usually falls in March in the Gregorian calendar. As the sun sets, people gather to light bonfires, a ritual known as Holika Dahan, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. The following day, the streets come alive with people splashing each other in colors, giving everyone a vibrant makeover. Are you ready for the hues of Holi?Desktop Version
Silent night, sparkling lights, and hearts full of joy
Silent night, sparkling lights, and hearts full of joy
Christmas markets in Germany are a cherished holiday tradition that welcome visitors into a magical world of twinkling lights, festive music, and delicious seasonal treats. These markets date back to the Middle Ages and are held in town squares throughout Germany, with iconic examples in cities such as Nuremberg, Munich, and Dresden. Each market displays unique regional crafts and festive customs. Here, guests can discover handcrafted ornaments, wooden toys, and cozy winter accessories, along with specialties like Glühwein (mulled wine), Lebkuchen (gingerbread), and roasted nuts—ideal for enjoying while immersing themselves in the enchanting atmosphere.Desktop Version
Puma in Patagonia
Puma in Patagonia
Odds are this very focused puma has its eyes locked on a guanaco, a relative of the llama that"s firmly at the top of its daily menu. In this case, dinner will be served in Torres del Paine National Park in the Patagonia region of Chile, the sprawling park recognized as one of the most famous places in the world to watch and photograph wild pumas. While tourists will sometimes see the big cats on their own, trained guides take visitors on hikes or all-terrain vehicle tours to look for the stealthy pumas. The wild cats have been officially protected for the last few years, bolstering their population, and there are abundant guanacos in the Patagonian steppes, which also helps.Desktop Version
Red-necked grebes during breeding season
Red-necked grebes during breeding season
The red-necked grebe has a bit of a split personality—in fact, it only lives up to its name about half the year. Its feathers are not red but brambly brown and gray throughout the winter, when it lives a low-key, quiet life in salt water along North American and European coasts. But just before it migrates to a northerly lake, pond, or swamp for breeding season, the plumage around the grebe"s throat turns a distinctive rust-red. Both males and females undergo the plumage change.Desktop Version
American Eagle Day
American Eagle Day
Bald eagles are a symbol of strength, determination, and courage. The powerful bird is celebrated every year on June 20, the day it was made the national symbol of the United States in 1782. President Bill Clinton commemorated this date by declaring it American Eagle Day in 1995. The bald eagle, named for its white-feathered head, was once an endangered bird, but conservation efforts and the Endangered Species Act have helped boost its numbers.Desktop Version
Oktoberfest begins
Oktoberfest begins
Welcome to Oktoberfest, the world"s biggest beer festival, held each year in the German city of Munich. Dating back all the way to 1810, it began with the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig, later Ludwig I of Bavaria, and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The celebrations took place on the fields in front of the city gates, which were named Theresienwiese, or Theresa"s Meadow, in honor of the bride. The festivities lasted for five days, filled with exciting activities such as parades and horse races. It was so popular that Oktoberfest became an annual event that now draws more than 6 million people. This year"s festival starts today and lasts 18 days. Beyond Munich, it has become a popular celebration in multiple countries, and cities inside and outside of Germany imitate the festival and cherish its German traditions.Desktop Version
Kiteboarding and windsurfing in Croatia
Kiteboarding and windsurfing in Croatia
Of the many ways people have invented to ride boards of one kind or another, the sport of kiteboarding (aka kitesurfing) is one of the newest. It owes a debt to all the board sports that came before it, borrowing a little bit from snowboarding, water skiing, wakeboarding, and of course windsurfing. Like snowboarders and skiers, windsurfers and kiteboarders often share play space, as they are doing here off the Pelješac Peninsula in Croatia. They can count on a stiff afternoon breeze to fill their sails in the summer months, when the land heats up and draws in the cool air over the Adriatic.Desktop Version
Go Fly a Kite Day
Go Fly a Kite Day
Is there a simpler joy than flying a kite on a windy day? The date of this magical invention is unknown, but the first written documentation of kite flying comes from China in 200 BCE. There they were initially used to measure distance, but over the years they have been tapped for fishing, sport, science, celebration, communication, and recreation. Kites can take many shapes and be made of various materials, but all of them have a wing surface, a tether, and a bridle that keeps the surface at an angle to the wind. In fact, you can easily make your own, and there"s no better time than today: Go Fly a Kite Day.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
Poppies in bloom
Poppies in bloom
The soft, rolling hills and ample vineyards of this southeastern part of the Czech Republic have earned it the nickname the Moravian Tuscany. This picturesque area, located in the Hodonín District near the town of Kyjov, is a haven for photographers. Moravia has a rich history, and the long-settled region has been a part of numerous empires. Medieval and Ottoman castles are among the historic highlights for visitors to take in.Desktop Version
State funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
State funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
Britain bids farewell to Queen Elizabeth II today, as her state funeral takes place in London"s historic Westminster Abbey. Crowds are lining the streets to pay their final respects to the queen, who died peacefully at her Scottish residence, Balmoral, at age 96 on September 8, after more than 70 years on the throne. The royal family, world leaders, and senior UK politicians are attending the funeral, which is being broadcast across the world. After the service, the queen will be laid to rest in St. George"s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle, alongside Prince Philip, her beloved husband of 73 years, whom she described as her "strength and stay."Desktop Version
La Brecha de Rolando (Rolands Breach), Spain
La Brecha de Rolando (Rolands Breach), Spain
High up in the Pyrenees, there is a gap in the mountains. More than 300 feet tall and 131 feet across, La Brecha de Rolando (Roland"s Breach), featured here today, is a sight to behold. But who was Roland? Count Roland was a Frankish military leader during Charlemagne"s reign in the 8th century. Legend has it that, after being defeated in battle, Roland cut a gap in the mountains—either to destroy his sword or to catch one last glimpse of France.Desktop Version
World Environment Day
World Environment Day
"To damage the Earth is to damage your children," as the writer and environmentalist Wendell Berry put it. Today is World Environment Day, which marks its 50th year of raising awareness and encouraging action to protect the natural world. This year"s theme is about finding solutions to plastic pollution, which brings us to our homepage image.Desktop Version
Astronomy Day
Astronomy Day
Get your telescope and star map app ready because it"s Astronomy Day! Doug Berger, then president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California, created Astronomy Day in 1973 to get more people interested in the wonders of space. He set up telescopes on street corners, malls, and parks to give people a chance to see the stars firsthand.Desktop Version
Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand
Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand
When the sun sets over Thailand, the Wat Chaiwatthanaram Buddhist temple lights up to welcome the night at the Ayutthaya Historical Park. These ruins are evidence of the area"s rich history as the capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, which grew in power between the 14th and 18th centuries to rule Siam, or present-day Thailand. Around 1630, Wat Chaiwatthanaram was built on the orders of the dynasty"s King Prasat Thong, to symbolize the center of the universe and connote his aspiration to become the future Buddha.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
National Roller Coaster Day
National Roller Coaster Day
To really get the feel for today"s photo, stop what you"re doing, put your hands in the air, and imagine yourself plunging downhill at 50 miles an hour. Screaming is optional. It"s National Roller Coaster Day and we"re waiting in line at Morey"s Piers in Wildwood, New Jersey, for our ride on the Great White. A hybrid wooden and steel coaster, it"s been in operation since 1996 and reaches its highest point 110 feet above the ground. Coaster enthusiasts point out the ride"s dip under the pier shortly after the start as one of its highlights. It"s also noted for a portion of the ride swinging out over the nearby beach.Desktop Version