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Long-eared owl in the Czech Republic
Long-eared owl in the Czech Republic
Whooo is that up in that tree? Why, that"s just a typical long-eared owl, sometimes called the lesser horned owl or cat owl. It"s one of the most numerous owl species in the world with an estimated population between 2 million and 5.5 million long-eared owls widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. Our featured friend today was found in the Czech Republic, but they"ll adapt to several kinds of habitats.Desktop Version
National Hammock Day
National Hammock Day
It’s National Hammock Day! A day to slowly unwind while rocking gently from side to side. These days, hammocks are associated with summer relaxation, but they were originally developed by Central Americans to protect them from dangerous insects and animals. Today the hammock is a traveler"s best buddy, made from a variety of materials like fabric, netting, or rope. But where best to hang it? Florida boasts some beautiful hammock hang-out spots, like the bald cypress tree pictured on our homepage. Have hammock, will travel and relax. It"s just that simple.Desktop Version
Rainbow Mountain
Rainbow Mountain
Even to the huge bummer that is glacial melting, there are bright sides: The radiant colors of Vinicunca (aka Rainbow Mountain) might have gone unseen had rising temps not melted the peak"s glacial caps beginning in the 1990s. Rainbow Mountain"s streaky sediment layers, multicolored like a wildflower bloom, were revealed by the 2010s. Since then, it"s become the most visited natural attraction in the lofty Peruvian Andes of the Cusco region. At more than 17,000 feet above sea level, Rainbow Mountain isn’t the tallest peak in the area—towering Ausangate is nearly 21,000 feet in elevation—but most visitors will need time to acclimatize before attempting the trek to the summit.Desktop Version
Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite National Park, California
Fancy witnessing a fiery waterfall? The seemingly impossible can be found at this time of year on the eastern side of El Capitan, Yosemite National Park"s famous rock face. Horsetail Fall is a seasonal waterfall that flows only when there has been plenty of snowfall, and when temperatures have been warm enough to melt it. For a couple of weeks in February, if skies are clear, water is flowing, and the sun shines at just the right angle, the long, slender waterfall takes on a glowing, flame-hued appearance. Hundreds gather in Yosemite Valley to see this mesmerizing natural spectacle. The phenomenon has earned the moniker "firefall," an homage to the historic Yosemite Firefall, a manmade event from the top of the park"s Glacier Point that took place between 1872 to 1968. Eventually, park rangers decided that dumping embers over a cliff onto the land below wasn"t the brightest idea.Desktop Version
Classical music takes center stage
Classical music takes center stage
We"re looking at the West–Eastern Divan youth orchestra rehearsing for a performance in the BBC Proms. The Proms (short for promenade concerts) is an annual music festival held in London over eight weeks from July into September. The first Proms took place on August 10, 1895 in the Queen’s Hall in Langham Place, London. After the Queen"s Hall was destroyed by a bomb during the Blitz, the Proms moved here to the Royal Albert Hall in 1941. This year marks the 125th festival and includes 150 concerts and educational events. While the focus is on classical music, the Proms in the Park event closes out the season with performances from Barry Manilow, Chrissie Hynde, and other pop artists.Desktop Version
On the wings of the Wright brothers
On the wings of the Wright brothers
For National Aviation Day, we’re highlighting a rare view from inside a wind tunnel at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia. The plane is a replica of the historic craft that was invented, designed, and flown by the Wright brothers in what’s generally acknowledged to be the first powered airplane flight–an event that took place on Dec. 17, 1903, near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. On that day, both Wilbur and Orville Wright took turns flying their aircraft, dubbed the Wright Flyer, cementing their place in aviation history. Their original plane lives at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, where it inspires generations of pilots and innovators to come.Desktop Version
Cenote near Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
Cenote near Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
Like a giant block of Swiss cheese, Mexico"s Yucatán Peninsula is riddled with holes called cenotes. Cenotes form when subterranean limestone dissolves, allowing underground water to penetrate. The rock above may cave in, forming a sinkhole that reveals the cool, often crystal-clear water. Other cenotes may remain below the surface, hidden and often unexplored. Cenotes vary in size from very small to several dozen yards across, and recent discoveries have shown that some cenotes lead to a series of underground cave systems that can span several miles in length.Desktop Version
Daiichi Tadami River Bridge, Fukushima, Japan
Daiichi Tadami River Bridge, Fukushima, Japan
The Tadami Line is one of the most scenic railway lines in Japan. It winds through beautiful landscapes over 84 miles from Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima prefecture, to Uonuma, Niigata prefecture. As travelers cross the Daiichi Tadami River Bridge, pictured in today"s image, they are treated to gorgeous vistas of the river below and the forests that blanket the area. After a snowfall, the icy blue water of the Tadami River cuts a bold streak through the forest, providing a welcome splash of color in a blanket of white.Desktop Version
Guanahacabibes National Park, Cuba
Guanahacabibes National Park, Cuba
Today we"re admiring red mangrove seedlings at Guanahacabibes National Park in Cuba. Mangrove forests not only protect coastlines but are a crucial component of tropical coastal ecosystems and are uniquely suited to thrive in brackish or salty water. These hardy trees can withstand the force of tremendous waves and ferocious winds, fending off the damaging effects of storms and erosion.Desktop Version
Moai statues on Easter Island, Chile
Moai statues on Easter Island, Chile
Today we"re looking at something you may have heard about before—the famous Moai statues on Chile"s remote Easter Island. These big-headed statues were carved out of solidified volcanic ash by the Rapa Nui people between 1250 and 1500, and there are nearly 1,000 of them on the island. Archaeologists believe they were meant to honor Rapa Nui ancestors and were revered as symbols of power and authority. All but seven of the statues face away from the surrounding Pacific Ocean, and instead look inward toward the villages, as if positioned to watch protectively over the Rapa Nui.Desktop Version
Cranborne Chase, England
Cranborne Chase, England
If this looks to you like the setting of a fairy tale, you"re not alone. England"s Cranborne Chase has long inspired writers and painters, and it"s been designated a national protected area because of its natural beauty. It may be especially beautiful in winter, when the trees and shrubs can be coated with hoarfrost, an uncommon type of frost that forms when water vapor turns directly into ice, skipping the liquid stage.Desktop Version
Adorable activism
Adorable activism
In 1995, officials wanted to build a traffic roundabout in this area of the Ferguson Valley in Western Australia. Locals weren’t interested in seeing the wooded land paved over, but the roundabout was installed anyhow. In response, someone placed a garden gnome on the construction site—a form of guerilla-art protest. Other small bearded, pointy-hatted fellows soon joined the original settler. The newly arrived wee residents at least prevented further development in the area. For what manner of villain would destroy the forest home of a bunch of garden gnomes? Eventually there were hundreds of gnome figurines, and a roadside tourist attraction was created.Desktop Version
Let s ride! It s Roller Coaster Day
Let s ride! It s Roller Coaster Day
Whether screaming with delight and waving their hands or closing their eyes and praying for it to be over, these riders are on the downslope of one of Europe"s biggest and fastest hypercoasters (that"s a roller coaster over 200 feet tall). Spain"s PortAventura Park is home to seven coasters, more than enough to get the adrenaline pumping. The Shambhala coaster, seen here, reaches 256 feet above the ground and has a max speed of 83 miles per hour. If that"s too tame, the park"s Red Force roller coaster climbs to 367 feet and reaches 112 miles per hour. Hang on!Desktop Version
World Numbat Day
World Numbat Day
OK, you might be asking: World What Day? Meet the nifty numbat! Though it"s one of many marsupials found here in Western Australia, the numbat is unique, sharing no relation to any living species. It"s also critically endangered: This cute specimen is one of fewer than 1,000 of its kind left in the wild.Desktop Version
Happy Boxing Day!
Happy Boxing Day!
December 26 isn"t just a day for Santa to put his feet up and sleep off all those mince pies. In many British Commonwealth countries, today is known as Boxing Day, a holiday that originated in the United Kingdom. There are a few conflicting theories about its origins, but it"s generally accepted that the name derives from the giving of "boxes" to lower classes on the day after Christmas. One thing is certain—it has nothing to do with pugilism, although it has primarily become a day dedicated to sporting events and shopping, much like the Friday after Thanksgiving in the US.Desktop Version
Bản Giốc–Detian Falls, Vietnam
Bản Giốc–Detian Falls, Vietnam
Welcome to a spot where rivers meet borders in the most stunning way: Bản Giốc–Detian Falls, featured in today"s image. Tucked between the karst hills of Daxin County in China and Trùng Khánh district in Vietnam, these falls tumble along the Quây Sơn River. Over 95 feet tall and 980 feet wide, it holds the distinction of being the widest waterfall in Vietnam. Located just 169 miles north of Hanoi, this waterfall have gradually worn away their crest over the years, inching upstream. For most of the year, they flow as two distinct cascades, but come summer, when the rains swell the river, they merge into one big fall.Desktop Version
Let the Highland games begin
Let the Highland games begin
Cue the bagpipes–today’s homepage brings us to Scotland for the Braemar Gathering, an annual celebration of Scottish culture that takes place today in the village of Braemar. These Highland games include traditional dance, music, and athletic competitions–and tartan, lots and lots of tartan (part of Scotland’s national dress). Since 1848, Braemar has regularly been attended by Britain’s Royal Family. Queen Elizabeth II, the official patron of the games, has come to Braemar every year since 1952, when she ascended the throne. It’s worth noting that she likes tartan too, and even has her own personal style of tartan—a pattern called the ‘Royal Stewart.’Desktop Version
Work out on your way to work
Work out on your way to work
The third Friday in May is National Bike to Work Day, which encourages commuters to try biking as a healthy and safe alternative to driving. The carving we"re looking at is in Bali, Indonesia. It depicts W.O.J. Nieuwenkamp, a Dutch landscape and portrait artist who rode his bike around Bali in the early 1900s, painting as he went—essentially biking to work every day. Nieuwenkamp was the first European artist to visit Bali and was influential in introducing Balinese art to Europe. The carving is part of the Pura Meduwe Karang, one of the largest temples in Bali. The temple served as an entrance to the island in the early 20th century and contains several symbols of international influence to reflect that.Desktop Version
National Mushroom Month
National Mushroom Month
Oh, to be a squirrel with a feast such as this! It"s National Mushroom Month, and it seems our red squirrel friend here in Alaska got a literal jump on celebrating. It might surprise you, but squirrels don"t only eat nuts. They"ll eat just about whatever"s around and that includes big mushrooms. Though a small percentage of wild mushrooms can be poisonous to humans, squirrels can eat many of these frightening fungi without worry, thanks to special proteins in their guts. Nice to know someone"s enjoying them.Desktop Version
White Desert National Park, Egypt
White Desert National Park, Egypt
Snow, in the desert? Not quite. Today we"re in Egypt"s White Desert, which gets its colorful name from an abundance of chalk, limestone, and quartz rock formations that give the sand its special hue. Tourists flock to this place to see these naturally occurring structures, honed over thousands of years into unique shapes through a process known as differential weathering. Located about five hours to the southwest of Cairo, White Desert National Park is a lot more than just deteriorating rocks—it"s also a protected refuge for several endangered animal species.Desktop Version
Stepping into autumn
Stepping into autumn
Look closely and you"ll see a snake slithering down the steps of the Temple of Kukulcan (aka El Castillo or The Castle), in Chichen Itza, Mexico. Not a real snake, it"s an image created by natural light and shadows only during the spring and fall equinoxes. The equinox (which means equal night in Latin) is either of the two times each year—like today, the first day of fall—when the Earth"s orbit and position cause the sun to pass directly over the equator, creating equal amounts of daylight and darkness. According to Mayan legend, on both equinoxes this pyramid is visited by Kukulcan, the feathered serpent god. Thousands of spectators gather to watch and celebrate as seven triangles of light slide down the pyramid, illustrating Kukulcan"s descent.Desktop Version
A Latino art exhibition in Denver
A Latino art exhibition in Denver
National Hispanic Heritage Month begins today in the United States. To explore the breadth of the Latino experience in the US, one might start with art—especially work from contemporary artists such as Gabriel Dawe, whose work is shown here. This is "no. 36" from Dawe’s Plexus series, a collection of art installations constructed from embroidery thread. The Plexus series is named for the networks of blood vessels and nerves that run through the human body. Dawe writes that his work–centered on textiles–seeks to examine gender and identity in his native Mexico and to subvert notions of masculinity and machismo. "Plexus no. 36," was on display at the Denver Art Museum in 2017.Desktop Version
I ll call for pen and ink
I ll call for pen and ink
"…and write my mind." It"s Shakespeare Week in schools across the UK, so we"re field-tripping to the British Library for a peek at the only surviving specimen of what"s thought to be playwright William Shakespeare"s handwriting (if you don"t count legal documents). The scratchy cursive is inked within the script of Anthony Munday"s "Sir Thomas More," a then-controversial play about a king-defying statesman. In 1603, the censorial Royal Office of the Revels brought in Shakespeare among a team of writers to retool the script. But if Shakespeare"s task was to tone things down, he may have had other ideas: His three-page addition includes an impassioned speech by the title character to a mob that"s rioting over immigration policy.Desktop Version
Penn Station
Penn Station
If this image of New York City"s Pennsylvania Station seems straight out of a classic film noir, it"s for good reason. The photo was taken in the 1950s, just a few years before the city"s beloved Beaux-Arts style masterpiece was dismantled and then demolished so that Madison Square Garden could be built atop its warren of walkways and train lines.Desktop Version
Kagami-ike, Nagano, Japan
Kagami-ike, Nagano, Japan
This serene Japanese landscape is reflected in the still waters of an artificial reservoir known as Kagami-ike, meaning ‘mirror pond." Surrounded by lush greenery and the Togakushi Mountain Range in Nagano Prefecture, Kagami-ike emerges from the morning mists to create an enchanting spectacle. During the cherry blossom season, visitors walk among sakura petals that float along the breeze while, in autumn, they can enjoy its surrounding orange and yellow foliage. This secluded spot is a wonderfully peaceful place for mindful meditation and self-reflection.Desktop Version