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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

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

Feb 5, 2022Monarch butterflies in Angangueo, Mexico

Every year, one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in Mexico takes place in the forested mountains west of Mexico City. During the fall, colonies of monarch butterflies migrate here from colder northern climates to find warmth and begin their breeding season. These huge flying colonies can contain as many as 20 million monarchs, which make use of air currents to travel as far as 100 nautical miles per day. The monarchs remain in Mexico from around November to March.Desktop Version

Feb 27, 2020Three cheers for polar bears!

February 27 is International Polar Bear Day, an observance created to bring attention to the important role these alpha predators play in the Arctic ecosystem. Though polar bears aren"t endangered—their current conservation status is "vulnerable"—these magnificent beasts have become a sort of mascot for the race to slow the melting of Arctic sea ice. The Arctic ice is crucial to the bears" survival, as they hunt the ringed seals that bob up through holes in the ice. As Arctic ice decreases, the polar bears" hunting ground does too.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

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

Apr 30, 2019It s International Jazz Day

We’re joining the rest of the world in celebrating International Jazz Day with this 1959 image of the legendary trumpeter Louis Armstrong. Jazz music has its roots in Armstrong’s hometown of New Orleans, but it quickly spread throughout the United States before developing an international appeal and influence. April 30 is designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as International Jazz Day to highlight the music and its role in cultures around the world.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

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

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

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

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

Aug 20, 2019Lakeside serenity in Finland

Hikers and campers in Finland, where today"s photo was taken, are allowed on nearly 90 percent of the nation"s wilderness, regardless of the property"s ownership. This practice is called Everyman"s Right, or "freedom to roam." It"s not really written down in Finland"s laws, but is used as a sort of social pact: Those who want to enjoy the outdoors can roam just about anywhere, as long as they obey a few basic good-behavior rules. It"s a practice that"s observed to varying degrees across many parts of central Europe, Scandinavia, the Baltic region, and Scotland.Desktop Version

Oct 30, 2018A species worth defending

Some folks are quick to dismiss bats as simply ‘scary’ (and the association with Halloween doesn’t help things). But during Bat Appreciation Month, consider their valuable contributions to the ecosystem. Bats around the world help to control bug populations (including agricultural pests), pollinate important plants, and disperse seeds–helping to regenerate lands that have been overharvested or otherwise damaged. In fact, what’s truly scary is how much we’d miss bats if they were gone. In North America, a disease called white-nose syndrome has killed millions of bats since it was identified in 2006–and scientists are working hard to find a way to help bats recover. One easy way to help bats is to build or buy a bat box for your property, and provide them with a safe space to roost.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

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

Oct 8, 2018Float on

We’d like to trade our usual Monday morning experience in for this one, please. Welcome to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico. The festival continues through October 14, with plenty of on-the-ground entertainment beyond those balloon rides that might take you east of the city, to the foothills of the Sandia Mountains, seen in this photo. Many hot air balloon rides offer a champagne toast as part of the experience. The champagne tradition may have sprung from early balloon pilots having to land in farm fields on private property. Aeronauts began carrying champagne or other drinks with them to offer to the confused and sometimes angry landowners. You’re welcome to land in our backyard anytime, balloonists!Desktop Version

Oct 16, 2021Unearthing a queen s lost tale

Almost 3,500 years ago under Queen Hatshepsut"s reign, Egypt enjoyed decades of peace and flourishing culture, and this elegant temple is just one piece of her larger-than-life legacy. But the pharaoh who succeeded Hatshepsut forbade all mention of her rule, taking credit for her monuments and leaving her name all but unknown for millennia.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

Apr 28, 2018National Park Week: Canyonlands National Park, Utah

You don’t need a museum ticket to visit the Great Gallery at Canyonlands National Park, but you’ll want to bring your hiking boots. This remote archeological site in Utah is home to one of the most well known rock art collections in the country. Archaeologists believe that the pictographs here in Horseshoe Canyon (formerly known as Barrier Canyon) were produced sometime between 400 and 1100 CE, when nomadic hunter-gatherers roamed the desert. Pictured here is the Ghost Panel, named for about 20 life-sized figures that seem to hover above viewers.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

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

Nov 9, 2018Let’s go foraging

It’s peak season for many kinds of mushroom, but to find this unique species you’ll have to travel someplace tropical. This cup fungus, cookeina, was photographed growing on the rainforest floor in Costa Rica. Like other fungi, it serves as a decomposer, helping to break down dead plants and animals in the ecosystem. Their unique cup shape aids in spore dispersal; it helps raindrops to splash spores out into the forest where the fungi can spread.Desktop Version

Feb 4, 2021Where is this wintry road?

This wintry, wooded scene comes from Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park in northeastern France, one of the country"s most beautiful and pristine examples of natural beauty. The park, established in 1976, is over 322,000 acres in size, 65% of which is covered in forest. The larch trees seen here are native to many of the mountains of central Europe, such as the Alps, Carpathians, and the Pyrenees.Desktop Version

Dec 1, 2020Giving Tuesday

These common terns sharing a fish have the right idea for today, which is Giving Tuesday. Held annually on the Tuesday after the US Thanksgiving, the global movement serves to encourage acts of generosity during the holidays, when consumerism seems to be the focus for so many. Giving Tuesday was founded in 2012 by New York"s 92nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation. Originally observed only in the US, it"s grown into a worldwide celebration of generosity promoted by a newly independent organization. There are several ways you can participate: Donate to the cause of your choice, volunteer your time, or just do something nice—even sharing a fish counts.Desktop Version

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