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Mar 1, 2023Womens History Month

For the first day of Women"s History Month, we"ve come to the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, to view the Portrait Monument, which depicts three founding mothers of the 19th-century women"s rights movement. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Susan B. Anthony are particularly known for their efforts to gain American women the right to vote.Desktop Version

Nov 15, 2023Rapa Valley in Sarek National Park, Sweden

Rapa Valley runs through Sarek National Park in northern Sweden, where rivers cut into lush meadows and towering peaks reach towards the sky. In this national park, covering about 760 square miles of pristine wilderness, elk roam freely, golden eagles soar overhead, and the elusive arctic fox leaves traces of its presence in the snow. From the beauty of Abisko to the rugged peaks of Sarek, Sweden"s many national parks boast a range of landscapes from glaciers to lush green forests and sandy beaches. The Sámi people have called this alpine region home since ancient times, and their cultural heritage is intertwined with the landscape. They fish the coasts, and perhaps most famously, herd reindeer.Desktop Version

Apr 17, 2022Easter

The American robin doesn"t go out of its way to hide its colored eggs, nor does it need watercolor to celebrate Easter! Thanks to a process in the mother"s blood, her eggs—which she can lay up to three times each year—are always colored this lovely shade of blue. There"s even a name for the hue, "robin"s-egg blue."Desktop Version

Jul 5, 2024Daintree Rainforest and Noah Beach, Queensland, Australia

Welcome to a land where greenery meets the endless blue. On the North Queensland coast of Australia, encircled by dense foliage, is Noah Beach. A fascinating blend of two ecosystems, here the Daintree Rainforest seamlessly meets the azure waters of the Coral Sea. This secluded area of the Daintree National Park boasts a stretch of soft, golden sands while elsewhere there are towering trees, lush ferns, and other plant species unique to the area. The Daintree is believed to have been around for up to 180 million years, making it the oldest tropical rainforest in the world. It is also Australia"s largest uninterrupted stretch of tropical rainforest and home to rare species like Bennett"s tree-kangaroo, found nowhere else on our planet.Desktop Version

May 23, 2022World Turtle Day

That"s a Florida red-bellied turtle celebrating World Turtle Day with a dip in the clear waters of Rainbow Springs State Park in Florida. This river turtle species spends the bulk of its day basking in Florida"s abundant sunshine and chomping on vegetation, but it"s nice to cool off with a swim, too. Red-bellied turtles have been known to sneak into alligator nests to lay eggs. If you"re going to find someone to protect your kids, you might as well make it an alligator!Desktop Version

Oct 30, 2023Common raven

The common raven is an intelligent and adaptable bird known for its striking appearance and remarkable behaviors. This elegant bird is easily identified by its characteristic wedge-shaped tail and glossy black feathers. Their keen eyesight and agile flight make them proficient hunters, often scavenging for prey or stealing from other predators. Ravens are known for their playful behavior and their omnivorous diet, feeding on a wide variety of foods, including carrion, insects, and small mammals.Desktop Version

Oct 28, 2024Pumpkin field, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

As fall covers the landscape with amber hues and the chill of Halloween approaches, it"s time to start carving some spooky jack-o"-lanterns. Originally from Ireland and Scotland, this craft was brought to America by immigrants who initially made lanterns from turnips and potatoes but later found pumpkins more plentiful and easier to carve. Once hollowed out and lit with candles, the gourds were transformed into flickering defenses against evil spirits.Desktop Version

Jun 18, 2023Happy Fathers Day!

Father"s Day may appear to go hand in hand with Mother"s Day, but this wasn"t always the case. It was proposed by Sonora Smart Dodd, who believed fathers should have their own celebration, perhaps motivated by the inaugural Mother"s Day of 1908. Father"s Day was first celebrated in 1910 and was recognized by President Woodrow Wilson six years later. It fell out of popular practice in the 1920s but eventually regained popularity—partly due to marketing—and was set as a permanent national observance by President Richard Nixon in 1972. Our homepage image today shows a common tern papa, doing his bit for the family—with this species, both parents build the nest and incubate the eggs.Desktop Version

Jul 26, 2023International Day of Mangrove Conservation

Natural vegetation is sparse in the United Arab Emirates, due to its hot and dry desert climate. But along its coast, mangroves have taken root. These hardy trees and shrubs are halophytes, salt-tolerant plants that can filter 90% of the salt from the seawater they live in. Despite their resilience, mangroves are threatened globally, largely due to human activity. Mangrove coverage is thought to have halved over the past 40 years, and they are dwindling much faster than forests overall. The UN has established the International Day of Mangrove Conservation, scientific funding, Global Geoparks, and World Heritage sites to try to reverse these trends. These efforts are vital; mangroves help prevent erosion and protect against storm surges, as well as providing a home for fish, crustaceans, and other wildlife.Desktop Version

Aug 25, 2022National Park Service Founders Day

While most of us play in our vast system of 63 national parks, others work there. Today, on National Park Service Founders Day, we recognize their efforts and the priceless gift of our country"s national parks. The NPS protects and maintains these parks as well as hundreds of national monuments and other natural, historical, and recreational properties. They include some of our most stunning natural landscapes, like North Cascades National Park in Washington state, featured here. This image, of the Triplets and Cascade Peak, is taken from atop Forbidden Peak.Desktop Version

Jun 20, 2022Pollinator Week

We spread our wings and fly into Pollinator Week with these exquisite Old World swallowtail butterflies who are enjoying a sip of nectar. The gorgeous swallowtail is welcome in any garden, both for its beauty and its ability to pass pollen from flower to flower. Far less desired are swallowtails in their caterpillar form, which can take a toll on ornamental plants or citrus crops. There are more than 550 swallowtail butterfly species, and their name comes from the forked appearance of their hindwings, which can be seen when the butterfly is resting with its wings spread.Desktop Version

Nov 19, 2024Tasmans Arch, Tasmania, Australia

Ready for a coastal adventure? Welcome to Tasman National Park in Tasmania, an island state of Australia about 150 miles off its southeastern coast. Spanning more than 41 square miles, this park features dramatic cliffs and distinctive columns of dolerite rock. Tasmans Arch, seen in today"s image, is a standout example. Shaped over time by the Tasman Sea, it was once the roof of a massive sea cave. The sea"s pressure, combined with air, sand, and stones, slowly pried open the vertical cracks in the cliff, dislodging chunks of rock. The cave kept growing, deepening, and lengthening, until it eventually gave way, leaving behind this towering natural bridge. Tasmans Arch is named after the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who also lends his name to the state of Tasmania.Desktop Version

Sep 9, 2023Ayutthaya 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

May 28, 2023Tegallalang terrace farms in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Sweeping downhill in our homepage image are the famous rice terraces of Tegallalang, one of Bali"s most popular tourist attractions. They are carved into the side of a valley near the town of Ubud and use the traditional Subak irrigation system, which dates back to the 9th century. Bali"s rivers and streams provide year-round water for its crops but here people work hand-in-hand with nature, and a network of irrigation channels distribute water to each paddy field. They carefully tend rice plants during the growing season, as generations have done before them, before harvesting and distributing the rice between the community. The Subak system is so important in Balinese culture, it has been recognised by UNESCO. These terraces offer visitors panoramic views over the surrounding rice fields and lush landscape, as well as a picturesque example of people living in harmony with nature.Desktop Version

Aug 31, 2023Saguaro cacti, Ironwood Forest National Monument, Arizona

Massive succulents against a mountainous backdrop, underneath the sun-kissed Arizona sky—it"s prickly perfection. Pictured here are saguaro (pronounced "sah-wah-roh") cacti at the Ironwood Forest National Monument in the Sonoran Desert. Even if you haven"t seen one in person, when you hear the word cactus, you"re probably thinking of saguaro—tall, green, cylindrical, with arms pointing upward. From tattoos to coffee cups, you"ll find this iconic symbol of Arizona on almost everything. Though they are slow growers, these plants have been known to live over 200 years and reach enormous heights, with a 78-footer setting the record. Another cactus, known as "Grandaddy," survived in the sweltering desert for about 300 years, eventually succumbing to old age in the early 1990s. Cacti may not be for everyone, but they tend to grow on you (figuratively, of course)!Desktop Version

Sep 3, 2023Skyscraper Day

Skyscraper Day pays tribute to the towering architectural wonders that dominate our city skylines. Observed on September 3, it also marks the birthday of Louis Henry Sullivan, a pioneer of modern architecture who is often called the "father of skyscrapers." Found in the world"s biggest cities, skyscrapers serve as symbols of progress, ambition, and reaching new heights. Manhattan, the dense, vibrant heart of New York City, boasts a mesmerizing skyline with an array of iconic skyscrapers. These structures, like the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, and the Chrysler Building, define the city"s architectural and cultural legacy and captivate millions of visitors every year.Desktop Version

May 21, 2023Pont dArcole over the Seine river, Paris, France

Welcome to Paris, France’s ancient capital city, through which flows one of the country’s longest rivers, the Seine. Human habitation here dates back to at least the 3rd century BCE, when a Gallic tribe called the Parisii settled on an island in the middle of the river. Today, that island is known as the Île de la Cité, seen on the left of our photo, and is home to Notre-Dame cathedral, as well as other striking buildings such as the medieval Conciergerie, pictured here.Desktop Version

Sep 27, 2022Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park

The highest concentration of geysers in the world is found here in this corner of Yellowstone National Park, called the Upper Geyser Basin. They include what is perhaps the most famous geyser of them all: Old Faithful. But the Upper Basin contains many other geysers as well, including the tallest predictable geyser (Grand Geyser) and the most voluminous geyser (Giant Geyser). Yellowstone contains about 500 geysers, roughly two-thirds the number in the entire world.Desktop Version

Nov 9, 2022European hedgehog in Sussex, England

Join us for a trip across the pond as we take a moment to examine the prickly European hedgehog. Our friend in today"s photo is in Sussex, England, but European hedgehogs are widespread across the continent. They"re thought to be the largest and heaviest of the hedgehog family. A nocturnal creature, the hedgehog can often be found in gardens snacking on its preferred diet of insects.Desktop Version

Aug 31, 2022Blue linckia sea stars in Papua New Guinea

In shallow areas of the tropical Indo-Pacific, you"ll come across the blue linckia sea star. Oftentimes it"s found anchored to or hiding under rocks. This duo was spotted near the coast of New Ireland, an island in Papua New Guinea. Even though "blue" is in the name, this species of sea star has also been observed in purple, pink, or orange. The vibrant colors make the linckia popular in the seashell trade, unfortunately, and intensive poaching has diminished their populations. But new research could lead to calls for their protection: Scientists have studied potential anti-tumor and antibacterial properties inherent to the blue linckia.Desktop Version

Sep 24, 2022National Public Lands Day

This striking photo lets us showcase two noteworthy events in one day, at no extra charge. (You"re welcome.) National Public Lands Day is observed on the fourth Saturday in September, and today"s also part of the Acadia Night Sky Festival, which celebrates the starlit skies over Maine"s gem of a national park.Desktop Version

Jul 19, 2022National Bison Month

July is National Bison Month and we"ve chosen today to honor America"s official and largest land-dwelling mammal. The male American bison in today"s photo is lazing among wildflowers in Yellowstone National Park, the only place in the country where there"s been a continuous population of bison since prehistoric times. Once widespread across the American plains and revered by Native Americans, they numbered in the tens of millions. Tragically, settlers hunted the bison nearly to extinction by the late 1800s. Fewer than 1,000 of the giants were left in 1905 when the American Bison Society was formed to save them. These days, the population has stabilized with a little more than half a million bison spread across the country, with a few thousand living freely on the plains at Yellowstone.Desktop Version

Dec 20, 2024Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland

Nestled in Rovaniemi, Finland, and pictured in today"s image, Santa Claus Village is a magical year-round destination where visitors can step into the enchanting world of Christmas. Situated right on the Arctic Circle, this village offers unique experiences, like meeting Santa Claus himself or crossing the Arctic Circle line. Children and adults alike can meet Santa"s loyal reindeer and explore a vibrant collection of Christmas-themed attractions designed to delight visitors of all ages.Desktop Version

Jul 4, 2023Happy Independence Day!

Break out the BBQ and unfurl your flags, Independence Day is here! Founding Father John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, that he believed the holiday would be celebrated with parades, sports, shows, and illuminations. After 247 years, Americans are keeping those traditions alive, though not on the date that Adams anticipated. The Second Continental Congress voted to approve the independence of the United States of America on July 2, 1776, but formally adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4. That date, enshrined on the Declaration document, became the one we observe today. If you"re looking for a grand way to celebrate, journey to New York City for views of their annual fireworks show and the Empire State Building lit up to match in red, white, and blue.Desktop Version

Mar 2, 2023Negratín Reservoir, Granada, Spain

Step into serenity at one of the largest freshwater lakes in the southern Spanish province of Granada, in Andalusia. The Negratín Reservoir, created by a dam on the Guadiana Menor River, sits the heart of the Granada Geopark, a unique, semi-desert landscape surrounded by the mountains of the Sierra Nevada.Desktop Version

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