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Square Tower House in Mesa Verde National Park
Square Tower House in Mesa Verde National Park
We continue our celebration of National Park Week (through April 24)–and the UNESCO International Day for Monuments and Sites–with a visit to the impressive Square Tower House in Mesa Verde National Park. Square Tower House is one of many cliff dwellings constructed by the Ancestral Puebloans in what is now the American Southwest. At 27 feet, it"s the tallest structure in the park. Square Tower House is also notable for its kiva, a round, sunken room used for ceremonies. Unlike most of the ancient kivas found in the region, the kiva at Square Tower House has an intact original clay roof supported by wooden beams.Desktop Version
International Day for Biodiversity
International Day for Biodiversity
It’s International Day for Biological Diversity, a day to celebrate the variety of life on Earth in all its forms, from bacteria, plants, and animals to entire ecosystems like coral reefs and rainforests. All living things within each ecosystem are interconnected, and we rely on healthy ecosystems for our water, food, medicines, clothes, energy, and shelter. But many species are threatened with extinction and ecosystems are being destroyed, which mean Earth’s rich biodiversity is in decline.Desktop Version
Blue linckia sea stars in Papua New Guinea
Blue 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
Autumnal equinox
Autumnal equinox
Fall is in the air—officially. The September equinox marks the transition from summer to autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, while in the Southern Hemisphere, spring is just beginning. The term "equinox," derived from Latin, means "equal night." It marks one of two points during the year when the sun sits directly over the equator, and the Earth receives roughly equal amounts of daylight and darkness.Desktop Version
Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo
Contrary to what many people believe, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico"s Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16. Instead, May 5 marks Mexico"s victory over better-equipped French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Although the French Empire would counterattack and take the city a year later, the unexpected victory was a morale boost which still has symbolic significance. While in the US, Cinco de Mayo is a popular festival celebrating Mexican American culture, celebrations in Mexico are relatively quiet and focused mostly on Puebla.Desktop Version
Christmas Bird Count
Christmas Bird Count
In the world of birdwatching, the Christmas Bird Count, first held back in 1900, is a highlight of the year. The original bird count involved just 27 people spread over 25 locations in the US and Canada. Since then, the annual bird census has grown exponentially, with participants in more than 2,360 locations across various countries.Desktop Version
Yosemite National Park turns 132
Yosemite National Park turns 132
There are thousands of waterfalls in Yosemite National Park, but perhaps none are as well known as Bridalveil Fall. First things first: Don"t call it "falls" because then someone may think you were in Utah where another waterfall bears the surprisingly similar name, Bridal Veil Falls. Bridalveil, as seen in the photo, is often the first waterfall visitors to Yosemite encounter. It plunges 617 feet and flows year-round, fed with water from Ostrander Lake nearly 10 miles away. When the flow is light, brisk winds blow the water sideways. That"s why the Ahwahneechee Native Americans, who have lived in the Yosemite Valley for centuries, traditionally called the waterfall Pohono, or "Spirit of the Puffing Wind."Desktop Version
Shark Awareness Day
Shark Awareness Day
Today, on Shark Awareness Day, let"s dive into the ocean"s depths to meet our finned friends. It"s believed that sharks have been cruising the oceans for at least 420 million years. Today’s homepage shows blacktip reef sharks, hunting in a group in the waters around the Maldives, one of more than 500 species of shark, each uniquely adapted to its habitat. From the graceful hammerhead with its panoramic vision to the fastest species, the sleek mako, shark species are diverse, but a third face extinction. Among threats are unregulated fishing and abandoned nets as well as demand for shark fins. They have a fearsome reputation but are the victims of myths and misconceptions that paint them as mindless killing machines. Today, let"s celebrate these magnificent creatures, a key part of healthy marine ecosystems, by advocating for their conservation.Desktop Version
St. James Tidal Pool, Cape Town, South Africa
St. James Tidal Pool, Cape Town, South Africa
St. James Beach is a small, sheltered beach on Cape Town"s coastline, where vibrant Victorian bathing boxes sit side by side against an azure ocean backdrop. However, it"s the St. James Tidal Pool, pictured on our homepage, that steals the spotlight. This protected bathing area, built between rugged rocks, offers crystal-clear waters for a tranquil swimming experience. The pool is warm compared with the ocean, teems with small marine life, and is perfect for floating around without worrying about strong currents. For those who like to stay dry, the beach is perfect for leisurely strolls, soaking up the sun, and observing the rhythmic ebb and flow of the tides.Desktop Version
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year"s Day! Humans have celebrated the new year since at least 2000 BCE, but various cultures have chosen different days coinciding with equinoxes or lunar cycles. The Romans established January 1 as the beginning of the year in 153 BCE, but this fell out of favor throughout Europe during the medieval era. Since 1582 and the widespread adoption of the Gregorian calendar, however, much of the world now celebrates the new year today. In addition to watching fireworks, drinking champagne, and making resolutions in the wee hours of the morning, other global traditions include making noise, eating lucky foods, and giving gifts.Desktop Version
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
This striking memorial to Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., displays 14 powerful quotes from his speeches and writings. The Inscription Wall, in Washington DC, lets the visitor browse the quotes without the structure of a timeline—the earliest quote dates to 1956 and the Montgomery Bus Boycott; the most recent is taken from Dr. King"s sermon at the National Cathedral in Washington just four days before he was assassinated.Desktop Version
Walton Lighthouse, Santa Cruz, California
Walton Lighthouse, Santa Cruz, California
Step to the western edge of America, where the Walton Lighthouse, also known as the Santa Cruz Breakwater Lighthouse, is a beacon for passing ships. Built in 2002, this 40-foot-tall building replaced a more modest light. The Walton Lighthouse got its name from Charles Walton, a businessman who helped fund its construction in memory of his brother Derek, a merchant seaman who died at sea during World War II.Desktop Version
Wind Cave National Park celebrates 120 years
Wind Cave National Park celebrates 120 years
Between the more famous national parks of Yellowstone and the Badlands lies Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. Established 120 years ago, this national park is home to one of only four wild herds of genetically pure bison in North America. The two in our image are the descendants of 20 bison saved from slaughter by conservationists in the early 1900s. At the time, fewer than 1,000 wild bison were left alive out of a population that once numbered 50 million. Above ground, the park is the largest grass prairie in the country. Below ground lies one of the most extensive cave systems in the world. As the weather above changes, air flows into and out of the caves creating the wind for which the park was named.Desktop Version
National Take the Stairs Day
National Take the Stairs Day
New year, new goals—so why not start by taking a step toward better health? On this National Take the Stairs Day, let"s climb into the past. The Great Wall of China, one of the longest humanmade structures in the world, offers the perfect inspiration. Stretching more than 13,000 miles and dating back thousands of years, the ancient marvel in today"s picture is a series of fortifications spanning rugged mountains, valleys, and deserts. Featuring steep trenches and watchtowers, parts of it were designed to keep invaders at bay. Hiking the Great Wall offers a unique glimpse into this historical landmark. The experience varies from well-preserved sections like Mutianyu to wild, unrestored parts such as Jiankou. Some steps are so high, they"re more like steps on a ladder! Talk about a workout—taking these stairs could rival any modern fitness challenge.Desktop Version
The Cathedral of Florence, Italy
The Cathedral of Florence, Italy
Considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence helped lead Europe out of the Middle Ages as a center of politics, finance, art, and culture. Seven-odd centuries later, it"s a snap to get aerial views of that era"s marvels, like the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (known more simply as the Cathedral of Florence). A crowning achievement in a city of crowning achievements, the complex includes a campanile, or bell tower, and a white-roofed baptistery in addition to the cathedral with its grand dome.Desktop Version
Walruses in Svalbard, Norway
Walruses in Svalbard, Norway
What"s the perfect thing to do under the midnight sun? If you"re a walrus, the answer might be taking a quick dip with your crew, chowing down on clams and mussels, and then sunbathing on a beach or ice floe. Welcome to Svalbard, an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean halfway between Norway and the North Pole. Our homepage stars were photographed in the waters off Spitsbergen, the largest of the archipelago"s nine islands, where male and female herds are found year-round. Male walruses can reach almost 12 feet long and weigh more than 2,600 pounds. During mating season, they use this girth to fight among themselves for dominance over groups of females, called harems.Desktop Version
International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
Earth is home to an estimated 476 million Indigenous people, a term meaning "sprung from the land" or native, which refers to the descendants of an area"s first-known inhabitants. They represent about 6% of the global population but speak more than half of the world"s estimated 7,000 languages. Our homepage today showcases the art of the Tiwi people of Australia, who speak a unique language unlinked to another other known language, in their community of only 2,000 people. Colonization has long impacted Indigenous people, contributing to high rates of poverty and loss of language and traditional lands. The UN first held the International Day of the World"s Indigenous Peoples in 1994, and every August 9 they bring attention to the fight to preserve the rights, dignity, and existence of the world"s oldest cultures.Desktop Version
Icelandic horses, Iceland
Icelandic horses, Iceland
The Icelandic horse is a small, unique breed that arrived alongside the first Norse settlers in this island country sometime between 860 and 935 CE. More than 1,000 years later, they remain purebred thanks to strict regulations prohibiting the importation of horses. And once exported, they can never come back—rules designed to stop the spread of disease.Desktop Version
World Book Day
World Book Day
World Book Day takes us to the Tianjin Binhai New Area Library in Tianjin, China. Nicknamed "The Eye," this immense, stunning facility was completed in 2017 as the focal point of the Binhai Cultural Center. Designed by Dutch design firm MVRDV in collaboration with local architects, the library"s floor-to-ceiling bookshelves appear well stocked with books, but most of them are actually printed images. The real books are stored in traditional rooms with normal shelves. Still, it looks super cool.Desktop Version
International Whale Shark Day
International Whale Shark Day
Say hello to the largest fish in the world, the whale shark. On August 30, we celebrate International Whale Shark Day to honor these magnificent marine creatures. These gentle giants are not related to whales, despite their impressive size—they can reach up to 40 feet in length. Whale sharks are calm creatures which are usually safe for divers to swim alongside. These sharks are filter feeders and consume plankton and small fish by sieving them through their gill plates. There has been a significant decline in their populations, with an estimated 63% decrease in their numbers in the last 75 years. Threats include being hit by boats or tangled in fishing gear and their habitats are being damaged by pollution, coastal development and over-fishing. Advocates work through education and community engagement to help safeguard whale sharks and preserve our oceans.Desktop Version
World Environment Day
World Environment Day
The Swedish wilderness is a fitting place to visit on World Environment Day, for it was in Sweden that the United Nations launched the annual observance 50 years ago, in 1972. This is Rapadalen (Rapa Valley), a 22-mile-long valley in Sarek National Park in the pristine mountains of northern Sweden. Surrounded by steep mountains, the Rapa Valley is considered one of Europe"s most enchanting landscapes. The remote, high-alpine region is beautiful to be sure, but it"s only recommended for experienced and well-equipped hikers. The weather is severe and unpredictable, and there are no accommodations available for tourists.Desktop Version
Wildlife crossing, Wierden, Netherlands
Wildlife crossing, Wierden, Netherlands
It"s not just chickens that cross the road. Wild creatures from frogs to elk roll the dice with death when they need to traverse the thousands of highways humans have threaded through wildlife habitat. Sadly, the dice don"t fall favorably for millions of animals each year, and collisions with vehicles often cause fatalities for both them and the drivers who hit them.Desktop Version
National Lighthouse Day
National Lighthouse Day
It"s Lighthouse Day in the United States, so let"s stroll over to Spring Point Ledge Light on the breakwater next to Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, Maine. Lighthouse enthusiasts will recognize this as a caisson-style light station, meaning it"s a lighthouse built on top of a water-tight chamber called a caisson. In the US, caisson lighthouses were once known as "bug lights" because at a distance they appeared short and broad, a bit like a beetle on the surface of the water. After the invention of the internal combustion engine, the shape reminded many people of spark plugs, so they started calling them "spark plug lighthouses." Most caisson lighthouses are offshore or on dangerously exposed sites, but this is the only spark plug lighthouse in the country that visitors can walk to.Desktop Version
Sea Otter Awareness Week
Sea Otter Awareness Week
Officially called Enhydra lutris, and unofficially known as the cutest creatures that float, these sea otters in Sitka Sound, Alaska, are doing what otters do, showing us that it truly does take a village, in this case a flotilla. Groups of either males or females (sometimes with pups), are appropriately named rafts. Male rafts tend to be larger and can number more than 1,000 individuals. Sea otters" buoyant bodies indeed work like literal rafts, standing in as cradles, dinner tables, or any kind of solid surface. That"s handy because otters spend the vast majority of their lives in the water, even giving birth in the sea. Although they seem to live carefree lives, frolicking and grooming and diving, they also serve an important role in keeping their aquatic ecosystems healthy, something to remember this week as we mark Sea Otter Awareness Week, observed every year during the last week of September.Desktop Version
Skógafoss waterfall, Iceland
Skógafoss waterfall, Iceland
Behold Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s largest waterfalls. This powerful cascade measures 82 feet across and drops 200 feet over what were once the sea cliffs of the country’s southern coast. The coastline receded seaward, but the cliffs remained, leaving behind this natural wonder, powered by water from two glaciers. Skógafoss, which translates as "forest waterfall," is frequently graced with single or double rainbows, formed by the refraction of sunlight through the mist. Legend has it that a treasure chest is hidden behind Skógafoss, left there by a Viking settler named Prasi Porolfsson.Desktop Version