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Ronda, Spain
Ronda, Spain
Today we"re visiting the mountaintop town of Ronda in the Málaga province of Andalusia, in the south of Spain. First settled by the Celts and later inhabited by the Romans and Moors, this dramatic cliffside setting is split in two by the El Tajo gorge, a rocky drop plummeting nearly 400 feet to the Guadalevín River. There are three bridges that span the gorge, the largest and newest of which features in the center of our homepage image and is—appropriately enough—called Puente Nuevo (New Bridge). Despite its name, the bridge is more than a couple of centuries old—it was completed in 1793 and connects the Moorish old town, La Ciudad, with the new town, El Mercadillo.Desktop Version
The Sky Over Nine Columns in Venice, Italy
The Sky Over Nine Columns in Venice, Italy
Here in the canal city of Venice, sun and water reflect off artist Heinz Mack’s sculpture called The Sky Over Nine Columns. The piece was on display here in on the island of San Giorgio Magiorre in 2014, during the Venice Architecture Biennale, and later traveled to Istanbul and Valencia. Visitors are encouraged to wander through the pillars as if wandering through a temple connecting the Earth to the sky. A closer look reveals the massive pillars are covered in 850,000 mosaic tiles coated in 24-carat gold leaf.Desktop Version
The aftermath of a meteorite
The aftermath of a meteorite
Today’s a special day for astronomy enthusiasts: It’s both Asteroid Day and Meteor Watch Day. To celebrate, we’re at the rim of a 560-foot-deep crater with a 3,900-foot diameter, creatively called "Meteor Crater." (Scientists call it Barringer Crater, for the name of the man who first theorized it was a meteorite-impact crater.) Some 50,000 years ago, parts of an asteroid fell to Earth here, in a location just east of Flagstaff, Arizona. And today, we can see just how devastating the collision must have been to leave a basin so large.Desktop Version
‘Ciao’ from Varenna
‘Ciao’ from Varenna
Scenic Lake Como in Italy’s Lombardy region is where the rich and famous come to play. The lavish historic villas are home to an increasingly well-heeled cosmopolitan set, including celebrities like George Clooney, who owns a summer house in the lakeside village of Laglio. As it happens, most tourists visit Lake Como in the summer, but we think winter looks magical as well, particularly here on the Riva Grande, the shoreline promenade of Varenna. Como’s picturesque landscape has served as a filming location for many popular movies over the years, including ‘Ocean"s Twelve,’ which Clooney starred in, as well as ‘Casino Royale’ and ‘Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones.’ Even Jedi knights aren’t immune to the region’s charms. In ‘Star Wars: Episode II,’ Lake Como was the site where Anakin Skywalker falls in love with Padmé Amidala.Desktop Version
One giant leap for penguins
One giant leap for penguins
These Adélie penguins are jumping for joy because it"s World Penguin Day. Or maybe they"re just looking for a snack as they dive off this iceberg. Native to the land and surrounding waters of Antarctica, Adélie penguins migrate to their coastal breeding grounds in late October or November. They can dive as deep as 575 feet, and swim as far as 185 miles round trip to find krill, fish, and squid.Desktop Version
Shhh, the movie is about to start
Shhh, the movie is about to start
Halloween is the perfect time to ponder the paranormal. For example, you might ask yourself, do ghosts exist? If so, how exactly do they spend their Halloween? Perhaps there’s a haunted theater out there in another dimension (cue the theme to ‘The Twilight Zone’). Maybe while we’re home watching scary movies about ghosts, these spirits are watching movies about us, the real undead. Spooky! We hope you consider our homepage to be a treat—not a trick—as it’s all in good fun. Happy Halloween!Desktop Version
A throng of ice and spires
A throng of ice and spires
If these frozen formations were named by more literal minds, we might know them as simply "reverse icicles." But the Andes, including this mountain pass rising above Chile"s Atacama Desert, were mapped by poetically inclined Spanish explorers. They likened formations like these to a congregation of penitent parishioners kneeling at mass: hence the common name "penitentes" for such packed-snow pinnacles.Desktop Version
A wild and scenic scene
A wild and scenic scene
Some of our nation"s most treasured rivers are protected thanks to a program that was first established on this day in 1968. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act aims to preserve rivers with "outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations." That"s something we can get behind.Desktop Version
Join the parade for World Elephant Day
Join the parade for World Elephant Day
Today is World Elephant Day, an observance created to raise awareness of the plight of elephants around the world and prompt action on their behalf. Poaching and habitat loss have affected elephant populations, but places such as Kruger National Park in South Africa have deployed a suite of solutions to counter their decline. With technology, stronger laws, and training, Kruger National Park’s rangers and park staff work hard to defend elephants from poachers every day. Like Kruger Park, we all have a part to play in protecting elephants. Let’s keep up the good work.Desktop Version
Springtime in the Mediterranean
Springtime in the Mediterranean
European bee-eaters really do eat bees, and other insects as well. They catch bugs midair and if the bugs have poisonous stingers, they’ll carry them to a perch and pound them to rub out the venom, making them safe to eat. You can find these jewel-toned birds throughout Europe, especially in nature reserves and parks. These two are enjoying the abundant sunshine in the Extremadura region of Spain, one of the best areas for birdwatching on the continent.Desktop Version
Arrr, it be Talk Like a Pirate Day
Arrr, it be Talk Like a Pirate Day
These sailboats in Warnemünde, Germany, set the scene perfectly for International Talk Like a Pirate Day. The holiday (yeah, we"re calling it a holiday) was first imagined in 1995 by two Oregon residents. September 19 was chosen for the annual observance since one of them had an ex-wife whose birthday fell on that day and they figured they could remember it. A few years later, seeking widespread adoption, they pitched the idea to humor columnist Dave Barry, who wrote, "Every now and then, some visionary individuals come along with a concept that is so original and so revolutionary that your immediate reaction is: "Those individuals should be on medication."" From there, it went viral, and these days, September 19 is celebrated internationally, with major brands and media personalities joining in the silliness. We"re fans, too. Just picture us typin" this here with an eye patch, peg leg, an" pocket full o" swag doubloons. Arrr!Desktop Version
Up, up, and away for Hot Air Balloon Day
Up, up, and away for Hot Air Balloon Day
Really, there’s only one way to celebrate Hot Air Balloon Day properly. But if you can’t catch a ride in a basket under a giant balloon today, know that the idea dates back at least to 3rd-century China, where paper lanterns were used as military signals. Fast forward to 18th-century France, where two paper-making brothers, the Montgolfiers, launched unmanned hot air balloons. Then, to great fanfare, they tried sending up a sheep, duck, and chicken, and finally, Étienne Montgolfier took a ride. Designs have improved since then, resulting in the standard hot air balloon seen here.Desktop Version
It s truffle season here in the Dordogne Valley
It s truffle season here in the Dordogne Valley
Perched high above the Dordogne River in France, the Château de Beynac is one of the best-preserved castles of the Périgord Noir region. This 12th-century fortress has been meticulously restored, showcasing for tourists such delights as a dungeon, 13th-century toilets, and magnificent views of the "Valley of the Five Castles" below.Desktop Version
Where the wildflowers grow
Where the wildflowers grow
In honor of National Wildflower Week, we"re looking at a splash of blooming bluebonnets, the state flower of Texas. If you notice bluebonnets and other blooms while traveling down Texas highways, thank the state"s Department of Transportation, which sows tens of thousands of pounds of wildflower seeds along roadways each year.Desktop Version
Après-ski in the Dolomites
Après-ski in the Dolomites
Today"s homepage image features Rifugio Lagazuoi, a ski lodge located at about 9,000 feet above sea level on Italy"s Mount Lagazuoi. With an elevation higher than most ski lodges in this area of the Dolomites, it gives visitors opportunities for breathtaking views like this one. The ruggedly beautiful mountain landscapes, pristine natural environments, and distinctive geologic formations all contributed to the Dolomites being recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009. While the area is accessible all year long, it"s worth visiting during the ski season to check out the Great War Ski Tour, an open-air museum where you can see World War I trenches and tunnels created by Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops as they fought each other in this precipitous and stunning terrain.Desktop Version
Cape Town at dusk
Cape Town at dusk
It"s a beautiful evening here in Cape Town, South Africa. From this vantage point we have a striking view of Table Mountain, with its "tablecloth," or cloud cover that typically shrouds the local landmark. Cape Town is a popular tourist destination noted for its beaches, natural beauty, architecture, and multicultural diversity—and in that diversity, it"s a showcase for the South Africa that Archbishop Desmond Tutu calls the "rainbow nation."Desktop Version
Crimson-rumped toucanet in the Refugio Paz de Las Aves, Ecuador
Crimson-rumped toucanet in the Refugio Paz de Las Aves, Ecuador
A small patch of red quills in its tail feathers earned this smaller cousin of the toucan its common name. That ‘crimson rump’ provides striking contrast to the deep green, gold, and blue feathers on the rest of the toucanet’s body. Our specimen was photographed in the Refugio Paz de Las Aves (Peace of the Birds Sanctuary), a private nature reserve nestled in the foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes near the equator. Visitors there can spot many neotropical bird species, including antpittas, hummingbirds, and tanagers.Desktop Version
Stepping stones in Tollymore Forest Park, Northern Ireland
Stepping stones in Tollymore Forest Park, Northern Ireland
If historic Tollymore Forest Park brings to mind knights and castles, it’s no surprise. The site in Northern Ireland was used as a filming location for the popular ‘Game of Thrones’ TV series. Encompassing 1,600 acres in County Down, the park is rich with lush greenery, but explorers will also find historic stone gates, bridges, and arches—some dating back to 1726.Desktop Version
Flamingos of the Chilean desert
Flamingos of the Chilean desert
Chilean flamingos fly past the Paine Massif, an eastern outcropping of the Andes Mountains in Torres Del Paine National Park. Below the towering peaks is the western edge of the Patagonian Desert in Chile. Despite the ‘desert’ designation, the Chilean portion is a large drainage basin for numerous glacier-fed lakes and rivers. These shallow waters are an ideal habitat for Chilean flamingos—they dip their comb-like bills into the water to filter out tasty plankton and algae.Desktop Version
It s Australia Day
It s Australia Day
If this aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef is a reminder that you ❤ everything Australia, today"s your day. Australia Day commemorates January 26, 1788, when the first transplants from England said g"day to Australian shores, but you can just call it a day to celebrate all things Aussie. From the Barrier Reef to the rugged bush to the dry Outback, we invite you to join the diverse people of Oz in celebrating their island nation (well, we can almost join the Aussies—it"s tomorrow for them already, so they celebrated yesterday).Desktop Version
The owl that loved football
The owl that loved football
As the name indicates, you’ll find the Eurasian eagle-owl across Asia and Europe. The eagle-owl in our photo today lives near Helsinki, Finland. Why an eagle-owl on Finnish Independence Day today? When Finland’s national team was playing a qualifying match against Belgium in 2007, an eagle-owl flew onto the pitch, delaying the game for several minutes. Ever since, the Finnish team has been nicknamed ‘Huuhkajat’—the eagle-owls. The owl, called ‘Bubi,’ was later named Citizen of the Year in Finland.Desktop Version
Daylight saving time begins
Daylight saving time begins
To mark the start of daylight saving time today, we venture off to Olomouc, a city in the Czech Republic. In the city’s Upper Square, next to the tower of the 15th-century Town Hall, is Olomouc’s famous astronomical clock. The clock doesn’t just keep the time of day, but tracks the phases of the moon, days of the year, and even has a star map to indicate what might be visible in the night sky. In this photo, you can see the buildings of the square reflected in the clock’s face.Desktop Version
Seattle Central Library, Seattle, Washington
Seattle Central Library, Seattle, Washington
In 2004 Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas infused an old-school institution with a high-tech vibe when he designed the Seattle Central Library. An instant architectural landmark for downtown Seattle, the library has been embraced by what’s been frequently ranked as one of the ‘most literate’ cities in the United States. Beyond its striking appearance, the facility has many unique features, including a four-story Books Spiral, which allows users to browse the nonfiction collection in one continuous walk, uninterrupted by stairs, elevators, or different rooms.Desktop Version
Craig Goch Dam in the Elan Valley of Wales
Craig Goch Dam in the Elan Valley of Wales
The masonry dam is the highest upstream of four dams in the Elan Valley region. It turns the Elan River into the Craig Goch Reservoir. With its curved retaining wall and series of arches, the Craig Goch Dam is widely considered the most elegant of the Elan Valley Reservoirs.Desktop Version
A glittering diamond in the rough
A glittering diamond in the rough
Peering from this vantage point you may wonder, how in the world could anyone access this hut nestled in Germany"s Bavarian Alps? By hiking in, of course. There are well over 1,000 such huts dotting the Alpine landscape throughout Europe, most of them built and maintained by private social clubs devoted to climbing, hiking, and other activities in the mountains. These huts allow hikers to light out onto the extensive trail systems, sometimes for days, while carrying as little gear as possible. No need to pack cooking equipment, tents and sleeping bags when you have guaranteed shelter each night, with dinners, breakfasts, and, if you"re lucky, a hot shower, included.Desktop Version