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Aug 17, 2018Illuminations on the Gulf of Poets

Each year on Aug 17, the northern Italian fishing village of Porto Venere is illuminated with more than 2,000 torches for the festival of the White Madonna, a tribute to the town’s patron saint. The lights extend onto this rocky spur, which juts into the Gulf of La Spezia, also known as the Gulf of Poets. With views like this, we can easily see how it inspired poets and artists throughout history–including Lord Byron, who is said to have swum across this body of water to visit fellow poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.Desktop Version

Dec 24, 2020Hey, don t you guys have somewhere to be?

Known in North America as caribou, reindeer are built to live in freezing Arctic regions like northern Norway, where this herd was photographed under the transfixing swirl of the aurora borealis, or northern lights. Reindeer have evolved unique features that help them thrive in these harsh environments. Their noses are adapted to warm the air they breathe before it enters their lungs, which helps maintain a steady body temperature even in the coldest of weather. And most of their bodies, including their hooves, are covered with thick, dense fur to keep them well insulated. In fact, they are more likely to overheat then freeze—so when they"re flying through the starry skies tonight, they"ll be feeling snugger than Santa Claus in his red velvet suit.Desktop Version

Nov 9, 2020Autumn in Piedmont

This beautiful fall scene is in the Langhe area of Piedmont, one of the great wine regions in Italy. More specifically, we"re looking at the hills of Barolo, a town famous for its locally produced wine of the same name, made from Nebbiolo grapes. In addition to wine, Piedmont is known for its truffles, which are harvested this time of year. Piedmont chocolate is also highly prized. Bicerin, a popular coffee-chocolate drink from the city of Turin (which hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics), has been around since the 18th century. The piemontesi, as locals are called, know how to eat and drink. Salute!Desktop Version

Oct 21, 2020Does this chameleon look a little insecure?

If it appears to be slinking away from the camera, maybe this chameleon is all too aware of the way some of us humanfolk see reptiles: as frightening at best, disgusting at worst. We know you die-hard reptile lovers are out there too, but it"s undeniable that reptiles" reputation among people has suffered thanks to popular villainous depictions—from "Anaconda" and "Godzilla" to the serpent encountered by Adam and Eve. Even our everyday language throws shade on this vast class of critters: When"s the last time you called someone "reptile" and meant it nicely?Desktop Version

Dec 1, 2021Antarctica Day

At just over 600 miles from the tip of South America, Cuverville Island is closer to civilization than most of Antarctica. As such, this small isle off the northward-jutting Antarctic Peninsula is a hotspot for tourists to catch some cool scenery (while freezing their butts off, of course). Visitors can also chill on the rocky beach with the locals: a glut of gentoo penguins whose rookery here is the largest along the peninsula.Desktop Version

Jul 22, 2020Wildebeest on the move

Each year, as many as 1.5 million blue wildebeest move through the Serengeti region of eastern Africa, traveling in a roughly 800-mile loop through Tanzania and Kenya as they chase lush, green grass and fresh water. When resources are depleted in one area, the animals move to another. Late summer often finds them in Kenya"s Maasai Mara National Reserve, shown on today"s homepage. The speedy wildebeest (the species can run up to 50 mph!) is not alone in its journey; hundreds of thousands of zebras, gazelles, and elands accompany the herd. The great number of animals makes this phenomenon one of the largest land migrations on Earth, often called the World Cup of Wildlife.Desktop Version

Dec 21, 2018Paper lanterns on the longest night

For the winter solstice today, we’re in Santa Fe, where residents celebrate the holidays with lovely paper lanterns known as farolitos, or luminarias. The annual Farolito Walk takes place each Christmas Eve in the city’s Canyon Road arts district, but the farolitos are often on display much earlier, lighting the way among the pueblo-style architecture that this region is known for. Winter solstice marks both the official start of winter, and the longest night of the year—meaning these paper lanterns will be put to good use tonight.Desktop Version

Aug 5, 2019A ‘Superior’ paddle

The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore off the northern tip of Wisconsin is a paradise for kayakers and campers, and those who like to combine the two. The park includes 21 islands which, if you’re willing to transport your own gear, offer uncrowded camp sites because, well, they’re islands. Once you’re in a kayak, you can explore some of the red sandstone sea caves, which are best appreciated from the water.Desktop Version

Jun 22, 2020Pollinators: not to be sneezed at

As National Pollinator Week kicks off today, you might ask yourself why a US Senate resolution would officially dedicate a whole week to bees, birds, bats, beetles, and other critters that move pollen from plant to plant. True, on days when your eyes are rubbed red by lunchtime and the Allegra won"t seem to kick in, you might not think the world of pollen. But in ways that transcend sinus clarity, your world wouldn"t be the same without pollinators—they"re to thank for as many as one in three bites of food eaten in the US. Pollinator Week is meant to highlight problems—like climate change, pollution, and invasive species—that threaten pollinator animals, especially bee populations that are already declining.Desktop Version

Oct 25, 2021Dyavolski Most

You"ve heard of a bridge over troubled waters, but what if the bridge is troubled too? Legend tells of a Bulgarian stonemason, Dimitar, who was tasked with solving a bridge problem here in the early 1500s. Dimitar was hired to construct a crossing that wouldn"t collapse into the rushing Arda River, as had all previous spans in this strange spot.Desktop Version

Jul 27, 2019Longer days mean warmer sand

Today we’re hitting the beach in Costa Rica’s Cahuita National Park because, well, just take a look at this place. If the sun gets too intense, we might take a stroll into the park’s lowland wet forest where, if we’re lucky, we’ll see sloths, toucans, and howler and capuchin monkeys; or maybe we’ll encounter armadillos, coatis, iguanas, and tamanduas (anteaters). After that, we’ll take a dip in the Caribbean waters offshore to marvel at coral reefs, sea turtles, and hundreds of species of fish.Desktop Version

Jul 27, 2020A stunning sight in Mexico s wilderness

Here in central Mexico, the Gallinas River spills into the Tampaón River gorge to create Tamul waterfall, renowned as a jewel of the country"s wilderness. Both rivers offer great swimming near the falls, and boaters can float by on the Tampaón for close-up views. Both activities are best attempted between July and October, though: During wetter months, the falls converge into a thundering cataract as the Gallinas rises to form torrential rapids.Desktop Version

Jan 8, 2022American bison

For an American bison, winter is the season to slow down, plump up, and let your hair grow out. Relatable, sure, but these massive mammals get there without the aid of beer, chips, and a couch.Desktop Version

May 25, 2018Cheers! It’s National Wine Day

We heard through the grapevine that it’s National Wine Day, a celebration of vino near and far. To celebrate, we’re featuring an image of the vineyards in Vaud, Switzerland, on the shores of Lake Geneva near the French border. France, Italy, and Spain are among the world’s top wine producers, but the United States has become a major winemaking country as well, thanks largely to California, which produces about 90 percent of American wine.Desktop Version

Mar 2, 2021Fall for Chile

It"s nearly autumn in Chile, where signs of the season vary widely as one travels from the Atacama Desert in the north more than 2,600 miles south to the tip of Tierra del Fuego. Around halfway between these two extremes you can find Conguillío National Park and the volcano Llaima at Chile"s center. In March, at the start of the Southern Hemisphere"s autumn, the leaves of the deciduous forest begin to turn color and fall, and the native Chilean pine trees (Araucaria araucana) stand out even more strikingly.Desktop Version

Jan 23, 2022Wedded Rocks, Japan

Just off the shore of Futami, in the southern-central region of Japan"s main island, Honshu, two rocks represent a sacred union between a divine couple. Known collectively as Meoto Iwa (Wedded Rocks), these sea stacks represent Izanagi and Izanami, the married brother-and-sister deities who created the islands of Japan and its gods in Japanese mythology. The large rock on the left is said to be the husband, Izanagi, and at its peak is a small torii, a symbolic gateway marking the entrance to a Shinto shrine. The smaller rock represents his wife, Izanami.Desktop Version

May 10, 2018Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn, New York

‘Kolonihavehus, 2010’ is a public artwork in Brooklyn Bridge Park, across the East River from Manhattan. The piece is made of scrap Plexiglas that artist Tom Fruin salvaged locally. The park’s 85 acres reclaimed and revitalized a stretch of Brooklyn’s East River bank, with sweeping views of Manhattan, just across the water.Desktop Version

May 29, 2019A ‘circus of chaos’ for Stravinsky

The whimsical sculptures of Stravinsky Fountain in Paris are a bold, modern contrast to the Church of Saint-Merri, seen in the background of our photo today. The fountain—designed to inspire feelings of joy and playfulness—is a tribute to the groundbreaking symphonic composer and conductor Igor Stravinsky. Though he was born near St. Petersburg, Russia, Stravinsky wrote and debuted many of his career-making works while living in France in the early 20th century. It was this day in 1913 that Stravinsky’s ballet ‘The Rite of Spring’ debuted at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.Desktop Version

Dec 10, 2018Feeling crabby?

Bright red crabs like this one number in the tens of millions here on Christmas Island, a territory of Australia located in the Indian Ocean. It’s warm on the island this time of year, and these crabs are migrating to the sea, where they will mate and spawn. The event is quite a spectacle—onlookers will see rivers of crabs, thousands of them at a time climbing over fences and crossing roads on their journey, which attracts tourists to the remote destination. This isle itself was named by an English sea captain who discovered the destination on Christmas Day of 1643.Desktop Version

Jan 25, 2022Saint Dwynwen s Day

Love is in the air on Llanddwyn Island at the southern tip of Anglesey, a much bigger island just off the northwest coast of Wales. Each year on January 25, Cupid aims his arrow toward the people of Wales who celebrate St. Dwynwen"s Day—the Welsh version of St. Valentine"s Day. St. Dwynwen is Wales" patron saint of lovers, although she was rather unlucky in that department after falling head over heels for a man she wasn"t allowed to marry. The 5th-century princess"s heartache led her to dedicate her life to God and pray for true lovers to have better fortune than her own. In return, Dwynwen became a nun and set up a convent here on Llanddwyn.Desktop Version

May 15, 2021Happy Astronomy Day!

No, that"s not a downpour of lightsabers—but it"s no typical night sky either. Stargazing here at Paranal Observatory, on a mountaintop in Chile"s desolate Atacama Desert, you"ll get one of the clearest possible naked-eye views of the southern skies. This "lightsaber" effect comes from the photo"s long exposure: What we"re seeing is these stars" paths as they track across the night sky due to our planet"s rotation. The dazzling colors indicate temperature, from chilly red (5,000-ish degrees Fahrenheit) to balmy blue (temps in the tens of thousands).Desktop Version

May 16, 2018National Love a Tree Day

The owner of this land in Wales could have chopped down the oak tree to make room for more crops, but we like to think he was too fond of the tree. And what’s not to like? Not only do trees provide beautiful scenery, they also offer animal habitat, cooling shade, and jobs. What’s more, they combat climate changes by absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere. Every day should be National Love a Tree Day, in our book.Desktop Version

May 14, 2020Green fields of grain

We"re looking down on the lush fields of the Sidemen Valley, sitting in the shadow of Bali"s tallest mountain, Mount Agung. In May, this Indonesian province marks the end of the harvest season of a key staple—rice. Towns and villages are decorated with colorful flags, and farmers erect shrines to Dewi Sri, the rice goddess. Small handmade straw dolls depicting the goddess are left here and there in further tribute. Before "social distancing" entered the global vocabulary, people came together to share traditional food and indulge in fun and games, like water buffalo races through the streets. This year, to be sure, the celebrations will be more subdued, more private, though the gratitude for a bountiful harvest, we suspect, will be just as deeply felt.Desktop Version

Jun 17, 2019World-class art comes to Arkansas

Bentonville, Arkansas, is probably not the first place that comes to mind when you think about visiting a world-class art museum. But Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a new must-see in the art world. Its collection includes paintings, sculpture, photography, drawing, and installation art from colonial times to today and features American artists such as Maya Lin, Andrew Wyeth, Jacob Lawrence, Jackson Pollock, and Georgia O’Keeffe. But perhaps the biggest piece of art is the museum itself. Designed by Moshe Safdie, the building blends seamlessly and beautifully into the surrounding Ozark landscape. In addition to the art and architecture collections, there are eight nature trails on the grounds. And admission to the museum is always free.Desktop Version

Jun 8, 2021A day for our oceans

To celebrate World Oceans Day, we"re swimming through a shoal of jack fish just off the coast of Baja, California, in Cabo Pulmo National Park. This Mexican marine park in the Sea of Cortez is home to the northernmost and oldest coral reef on the west coast of North America, estimated to be about 20,000 years old. Jacks are clearly plentiful here, but divers and snorkelers in Cabo Pulmo can also come across many other species of fish and marine mammals, including several varieties of sharks, whales, dolphins, tortoises, and manta rays.Desktop Version

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