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World Elephant Day
World Elephant Day
These giants are the largest land animals on Earth, African bush elephants, which can reach 13 feet in shoulder height and weigh as much as 11 tons. They are one of three living species of elephant, alongside their smaller relatives, the African forest elephant and the Asian elephant. Their immense size is not the only incredible thing about them. Studies suggest that elephants can recognize themselves in the mirror and that these mammals display emotions such as grief when they lose family members. World Elephant Day—held on August 12—was set up to admire them but also to highlight the difficulties they face. Amboseli National Park in Kenya—where this photograph was taken—is one of the few remaining habitats where African elephant herds can still be found in large numbers.Desktop Version
Ölüdeniz, Turkey
Ölüdeniz, Turkey
Whether you love snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, paragliding, or simply soaking up some sun, Ölüdeniz on Turkey"s Turquoise Coast will fit the bill. The name of the village and beach—Ölüdeniz—literally means "Dead Sea," a reference to the calm water, but it"s better known as Turkey"s Blue Lagoon for the stretch of tranquil waters set off from the ocean by a long sandbar. Much of the area is protected inside a national park, and the Ölüdeniz beach proudly holds the Blue Flag certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education, which recognizes high environmental and quality standards.Desktop Version
Bryce Canyon National Park turns 100
Bryce Canyon National Park turns 100
As the sun rises on Bryce Canyon, its snow-capped red rock formations start to glow. These slender towers are called hoodoos, and Bryce Canyon National Park has the highest concentration of them anywhere on Earth.Desktop Version
Galeries Lafayette, Paris
Galeries Lafayette, Paris
Surely one of the grandest stores found in any city is the Galeries Lafayette in Paris. It"s not just a place to shop but a destination as popular as any in the City of Light. At a time when department stores are fading and the entire retail industry is shifting, the Galeries Lafayette holds fast. It has survived financial crises, wars, and now the internet, remaining a celebrated part of life in Paris. Like Macy"s or Rockefeller Center in New York, the Galeries Lafayette is synonymous with the holidays. A giant fir is decorated every holiday season under the store"s signature stained glass dome—a ritual of Christmas cheer that Parisians have embraced for generations.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
Summer solstice
Summer solstice
The ancient monument of Stonehenge has fascinated people for centuries. Estimated to have been built between 3000 and 2000 BCE in the English county of Wiltshire, its large standing stones remain an enigma. Exactly why and how this massive stone circle was built are still debated. What we do know, is that it was done without metal tools or the use of wheels—and some of those stones were moved more than 150 miles.Desktop Version
Dolomites
Dolomites
Few places in Europe offer the opportunity to take in the Milky Way like the Dolomites. Far from cities and light pollution, and thousands of feet above sea level, the Dolomites offer a stunning, vibrant night sky above sheer, jagged peaks that cut the dark. Also known as the "Pale Mountains," the Dolomites are named for the sedimentary carbonate rock called dolomite that was first identified in this range.Desktop Version
Humpback whales in Maui, Hawaii
Humpback whales in Maui, Hawaii
If you ever want to feel insignificant, just think about the sheer size of a humpback whale. With adults growing up to 56 feet long, humpback whales are one of the biggest mammals on Earth. In February, Hawaii celebrates the return of these migrating giants with its Maui Whale Festival. This month-long event encourages people to get involved in conservation efforts and includes whale-watching tours, allowing closer views of these beautiful creatures.Desktop Version
J.R.R. Tolkien Day
J.R.R. Tolkien Day
It"s time to bust out the furry feet and pointed ears because today is J.R.R. Tolkien Day, celebrating the literary legend behind "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit." On January 3, the Tolkien Society toasts "the professor" on his birthday, echoing Frodo"s annual toasts to Bilbo on his birthday each year. Tolkien"s roots run through Oxford, where he studied English language and literature and later became a professor. Since 1979, Oxford"s Bodleian Library has been home to the Tolkien Archive, a collection of manuscripts, artwork, and even a Middle-earth map with Tolkien"s handwritten notes. His legacy is one of timeless fantastical tales that have delighted generations of readers since they were written more than 70 years ago. His stories encourage us to seize each day and make the most of the time that is given to us.Desktop Version
South Padre Island, Texas
South Padre Island, Texas
Located a few miles offshore on the Texas Gulf Coast, Padre Island is the largest of the state"s string of barrier islands. At 113 miles in length, it is also the longest barrier island in the world. Barrier islands usually run parallel to the coast and, as the name suggests, serve as the mainland"s first line of defense against storms.Desktop Version
World Photography Day
World Photography Day
On August 19, 1839, French artist and photographer Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre made public his invention that created an image using a silver-plated copper sheet and mercury vapor. The daguerreotype process became the first publicly available photographic process and was used throughout the 1840s and 1850s.Desktop Version
World Teachers Day
World Teachers Day
Class trip? Looks like this teacher has their youngsters in line. If only it were always this easy.... Today is World Teachers" Day, and we"re celebrating educators of all kinds. This year"s theme is "Teachers at the heart of educational renewal," and it highlights the remarkable efforts of teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine. They"ve had to balance health and safety concerns with an abrupt switch to remote learning or partial in-person classes, all while focusing on the education and well-being of their students.Desktop Version
A splash by the sea
A splash by the sea
You wouldn’t know there’s a highway behind these beaming blue pools, and that is just what architect Álvaro Siza Vieira intended. At the young age of 26, Álvaro Siza designed these Piscinas das Marés (Pools on the Beach). His creation has become a Portuguese national landmark and is praised for the way the pools blend into the landscape from some perspectives, and show a harmonious blend of nature and artificiality from others. The design respectfully floats the pools between the soft sands of the beach and the rocky outcrops that have been here long before 1966, when the project was completed. The shapes of the pools simultaneously follow and oppose the natural lines of the terrain that surround them, a masterful balance that foregrounds the beauty of each, as well as the entirety of the scene Álvaro Siza has helped to set.Desktop Version
National Audubon Society s Christmas Bird Count
National Audubon Society s Christmas Bird Count
It"s that time again! Grab your binoculars and bird guide and head outside to start counting. The National Audubon Society"s Christmas Bird Count starts on December 14 annually and runs until January 5. Originating as an actual hunt in the 19th century, on Christmas Day in 1900 someone had the bright idea to stop killing the birds and instead just observe them.Desktop Version
Marine Day in Japan
Marine Day in Japan
The striking coastline of Omijima Island has earned it the nickname the Alps of the Sea. Its sheer cliffs and dramatic angles certainly echo the skyscraping peaks in that European mountain range. But a visit to Omijima Island will take you to the other side of the world, to Kita-Nagato Kaigan Quasi-National Park, in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. Year-round scuba diving adventures reveal a world under the waves just as beautiful as the one above the surface.Desktop Version
Perseid meteor shower over Oregon
Perseid meteor shower over Oregon
What must our ancestors have thought when they saw meteors light up the night sky? Was it terrifying or an event of wonder? Thankfully, we now know that this celestial cascade is a harmless annual event. The Perseid meteor shower thrills stargazers from mid-July to late August and is due to peak today. The Perseids are caused by Earth passing through debris left behind by the Comet Swift-Tuttle. When the cosmic debris hits our atmosphere, it disintegrates in a colorful, fiery light display. It"s a good night to catch the Perseids if you can—the moon is projected to only be 10% illuminated, so the meteors should really stand out against the dark sky.Desktop Version
Village of Zahara de la Sierra, Cadiz, Spain
Village of Zahara de la Sierra, Cadiz, Spain
Zahara de la Sierra, a stunning whitewashed village in the hills of Cádiz province in Spain, offers a blend of history and nature in the south of the Iberian Peninsula. Perched on a rocky hilltop, the village seen in today"s image overlooks the Zahara-El Gastor Reservoir and the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1977. Its Moorish castle ruins and 15th-century tower reflect its history as a medieval fortress. Stroll through streets lined with flower-filled balconies, visit the church of Santa María de la Mesa, or simply relax and take in the views. Zahara is also a gateway to adventure—activities like hiking, cycling, and kayaking are only a little of what the village has to offer.Desktop Version
Arrone in Umbria, Italy
Arrone in Umbria, Italy
Close your eyes and picture a charming medieval Italian village, perched on a hill, church bells marking the hours, a hazy spread of patchwork fields fading into the distance. Well, that"s the ancient village of Arrone. (On second thought, we probably didn"t need the photo.) Arrone looks over the Valnerina, a valley carved by the River Nera, which twists its way through Italy"s scenic Umbria region, known as the Green Heart of Italy.Desktop Version
Pi Day
Pi Day
Did Neolithic humans build this structure to celebrate Pi Day? Not likely. Pi Day is a relatively recent phenomenon—invented by a physicist in 1988 and designated by Congress a national holiday in 2009. But it"s already almost certainly the most popular holiday celebrating a mathematical constant. While Pi Day is a young tradition, the number π (pi) itself has been a fascination since antiquity, when it was first calculated as the ratio of a circle"s circumference to its diameter.Desktop Version
World Philosophy Day
World Philosophy Day
On World Philosophy Day, we"re in Athens, the capital of Greece, the birthplace of Western philosophy and democracy. The iconic Acropolis, the ancient citadel that towers over Athens, and its most famous monument, the Parthenon, remind us of the brilliant minds of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Ancient Greek philosophy focused on critical thinking and questioning and started a revolution of rationale that is still shaping our society today. UNESCO recognizes the profound impact philosophy has on human thought, cultures, and individuals on World Philosophy Day. Take time today to discover the depths of the "love of wisdom"!Desktop Version
Mod gear
Mod gear
This Lambretta scooter, decked out with extra mirrors, lights, and horns, is an iconic symbol of the mod subculture. Attendees at Purple Weekend, a mod-revival festival held every year in León, Spain, will see many Lambretta and Vespa scooters. The popular event held this weekend gathers fans of mod music, fashion, and culture. The mod movement began in England in the late 1950s, as modern jazz and rhythm & blues records imported from the US sparked the clean-cut, modernist fashion and lifestyle aesthetic that appealed to a new middle class of young people in postwar Britain. The fashion, scooters, and music choices caught on outside the UK during the 1960s and inspired future generations to embrace the style. Now, mod-revival festivals like Spain’s Purple Weekend happen in many countries around the world.Desktop Version
Blackbird in Essex, England
Blackbird in Essex, England
The end of January in the Northern Hemisphere can be quite cold, as it is near the midpoint of winter. According to Italian folklore, the last three days of January are the coldest of the year and are referred to as the "days of the blackbird." One local legend gives a fun take on how blackbirds got their dark feathers: To protect her young chicks from the cold Northern Italian winter, a mother bird with white feathers built her nest in a chimney. After her white chicks emerged from their eggs, their feathers turned black from the chimney"s soot, and from that day on, all such birds were born as "blackbirds."Desktop Version
Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, France
Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, France
A tidal marvel and a slice of medieval life all rolled into one rocky outcrop—welcome to Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, northern France. The story of this "Wonder of the West" goes back to the early 8th century, when Archangel Michael was said to have appeared to the bishop of Avranches in a vision. The divine message was clear: build a sanctuary on this rock. Taking this angelic advice seriously, the bishop laid the foundations of what would eventually become the abbey that dominates the island today. Over the centuries, this UNESCO World Heritage Site grew in size and reputation, attracting monks, pilgrims, and invaders alike.Desktop Version
Día de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico
Día de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico
It may seem odd to celebrate death—after all, it"s the end of our personal era. But tell that to people who celebrate the Day of the Dead, or el Día de los Muertos, and they"ll smile. They may explain that death is part of the circle of life, and as natural as any other human milestone. As our photo shows, the Day of the Dead is a big holiday in Mexico, where calacas—skeleton figures of musicians, workers, and other folks in merry scenes of everyday "life"—lurk everywhere for weeks before the main event. Of course, living people also play dead for the day, donning skeleton outfits, masks, and grotesque makeup. Music, processions, and food add to the quirky, fun carnival atmosphere.Desktop Version
Valentines Day
Valentines Day
Valentine"s Day is here! A day to celebrate love and tell your significant other how much they mean to you, Valentine"s Day is perhaps one of the most popular holidays around the world. Although its exact origins are not known, it is associated with the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia and the Christian feast day of Saint Valentine. But today, Valentine"s Day has evolved into a huge cultural and commercial celebration of romantic love.Desktop Version