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Dec 3, 2020A Carpathian Christmas celebration

Nestled at the foot of Mount Tampa in the Southern Carpathian Mountains of Romania, Brașov is a wonderful example of medieval Europe"s intersecting cultures. Founded by Teutonic Knights, settled by Saxons and Hungarians, and influenced by the Ottoman Empire, the Tartars, and the native Romanians, the city"s Gothic architecture and unique cuisine reflect its rich history. The city"s Christmas market is held throughout the month of December and is dominated by a 90-foot-tall, live Christmas tree. The market"s numerous stalls feature food, drink, and local crafts.Desktop Version

Dec 8, 2020A fortress in the sky

Beginning as a lone watchtower high in the Apennines of Italy in the 10th century, the fortress called Rocca Calascio gained more heft over the next few hundred years. A quartet of additional towers and heavy walls were gradually added around the first tower. These fortifications made clear that Rocca Calascio was ready for any military rivals who might scale the slopes from the valley below to attack this garrison. The fight never came. The ruins you see here are not battle scars but the result of a powerful earthquake. By the early 1700s, Rocca Calascio was abandoned, but it can still claim the title of highest fortress in the Apennines—and some of the most spectacular views in all of Italy. In fact, filmmakers have chosen the site for several movies, including "The Name of the Rose" and "Ladyhawke."Desktop Version

Sep 5, 2020Beaver achievers

Don"t get distracted by the awesome top half of today"s photo. The postcard appeal of Idaho"s Sawtooth Range is undeniable, but our focus today is on the humble structure at the bottom.Desktop Version

Oct 7, 2021Great on so many levels

Water flows evenly over seven distinct tiers of packed earth at Huay Mae Khamin Waterfall, a remote gem four hours northwest of Bangkok. Part of Khuean Srinagarindra National Park, the waterfall features a trail network leading up to each terrace, offering visitors a close-up look at every level of the picturesque cascade.Desktop Version

May 29, 2018The first ascent

Greetings from base camp at Mount Everest, the highest peak on Earth. For most of us, pictures are as close as we’ll get to this iconic destination, which was first summited on this day in 1953. Mountaineers Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made the historic first ascent and achieved instant fame. The two spent 15 minutes on the summit, with Norgay leaving an offering of sweets.Desktop Version

May 22, 2018Happy birthday to Crater Lake National Park

Roughly 7,700 years ago, give or take 150 years, Mount Mazama erupted and collapsed, creating a massive crater that would become Crater Lake. Fast-forward to this day in 1902, and Crater Lake National Park was established. With a maximum depth of 1,943 feet, equivalent to 3.5 Washington Monuments, Crater Lake is also the deepest lake in the US.Desktop Version

Aug 11, 2018Lace up your hiking boots for Mountain Day

Here in Japan, Mountain Day began just two years ago as a way to encourage residents to get out and explore Japan’s beautiful mountains. Mount Fuji’s Yoshida Trail, seen in this photo, is open only a short time every year, so it might be busy today. If Fuji, or any mountain, is beyond your reach, consider the seasonally appropriate ‘forest bath’ as an alternative. In Japan, a forest bath is a form of nature therapy, with no undressing, soap, or water required. Simply go to a wooded area and relax, soaking in the clean air and natural sounds as you calm your thoughts. (Is it working yet?)Desktop Version

Jun 16, 2019Happy Father s Day

These lions in southern Africa’s Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park probably aren"t heading out for Father"s Day brunch. Cubs are usually protected by their mothers, while their fathers merely tolerate them in most cases. While stereotypes might suggest that the same holds true for humans, a Pew Research study showed that dads are just as likely as moms to say that parenting is extremely important to their identity, and dads are much more involved in child care than they were years ago. It took dads a while to earn this day. Father"s Day was first celebrated in 1910 in Washington state. While it gained popularity over the years, it didn"t become a national holiday until President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation in 1972. Mother"s Day got a proclamation in 1914, but let"s not get competitive here—today"s about dad.Desktop Version

Feb 6, 2020A hint of spring

Native to Western Europe, and especially popular in Great Britain, snowdrops are the bulb you"ll want to plant if the cold, drab landscape of winter gets you down. These small bulbs bloom very early—sometimes as soon as January—and are commonly associated with the promise of spring. But plant enough of them, or come across a naturally occurring patch, and it can look like a light dusting of winter snow has coated the ground. Need a little hope to get you through this last stretch of winter? Look no further than the lovely snowdrop.Desktop Version

Feb 17, 2021The persistence of Perito Moreno

Yes, it"s true that glaciers are shrinking, but not all of them. Perito Moreno, a low-lying glacier in southern Argentina, accumulates ice at about the same rate that it melts into chilly Argentino Lake. This equilibrium makes it one of the few glaciers worldwide that aren"t losing mass to climate change.Desktop Version

Jul 16, 2020Summertime in Alaska

Humpback whales are famous for breaching—leaping out of the water in a spectacular display of size and power. Even though they can weigh more than a house and stretch to 50 feet in length, they still manage aquatic acrobatics that are amazing to behold, as the picture on our homepage captures so beautifully. Scientists don"t know why some whales breach but speculate it"s a form of communication or a mating display. Or maybe they"re just having fun.Desktop Version

Oct 12, 2021High tide at the walled city

Saint-Malo was founded by the Gauls more than 2,000 years ago and has an appropriately rich and storied history. Built on the Brittany coast of the English Channel, Saint-Malo became an important stop for ships coming into and out of Western Europe. And because of its strategic location, Saint-Malo was, for a time, a favorite spot for pirates, corsairs, and privateers—as ships made their way through the channel, pirates lurking off the Saint-Malo coast could pounce easily while French authorities looked the other way.Desktop Version

Jan 15, 2020Harvest season begins

Today we"re in Kathmandu, Nepal, where the Boudhanath stupa stands out against the skyline. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the stupa is on the ancient trade route from Tibet—traders have rested and offered prayers here for centuries. Like all stupas, Boudhanath is a mound-like structure containing relics. It was first built sometime after the 600s, when Buddhism was first spreading through Tibet and Nepal. It"s long been a major pilgrimage site for Buddhists, and is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha, one of the 29 named ancient Buddhas.Desktop Version

Jun 11, 2018A Great view from above

At 132,974 square miles, the Great Barrier Reef is about half the size of Texas, a statistic that becomes even more amazing when you learn the reef was created by teeny, tiny marine invertebrates. Coral reefs are formed when colonies of coral polyps secrete hard exoskeletons made of calcium carbonate, slowly building an underwater home that supports marine life of all shapes and sizes. That’s a feat worth protecting.Desktop Version

Mar 25, 2022Tolkien Reading Day

For Tolkien Reading Day, we"re visiting the Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Swiss Alps, which is believed to have inspired the Elven sanctuary of Rivendell in J.R.R. Tolkien"s novels "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit." Like Tolkien"s mythical Elf settlement, Lauterbrunnen Valley has a bit of storybook appeal, with an unusually narrow valley floor hemmed in by steep Alpine cliffs and dotted with numerous waterfalls. Lauterbrunnen became popular among mountain climbers and hikers beginning in the late 19th century, and Tolkien hiked through the valley in 1911. The valley remains a popular tourist destination.Desktop Version

Jul 2, 2020All Rhodes lead to the beach

Welcome to sunny Rhodes, Greece, an island of stunning beaches and steeped in history. Rhodes sits just off the coast of Turkey and has been occupied for more than 3,500 years by a parade of empires, from Minoans and Persians to Greeks, Romans, and Arabs, and even a Catholic order of knights. It is still famous for being the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—the Colossus of Rhodes—even though there"s no visible trace of the statue since it was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BCE, having stood for just 54 years.Desktop Version

Jan 31, 2021A 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

Apr 22, 2018Have a ‘beary’ good Earth Day

Is it just us, or does this brown bear cub look like he’s hugging a tree? If we’re correct, it might be because this tree-hugger is celebrating Earth Day, an event that falls during National Park Week this year. It’s a fitting alignment of events, because national parks protect important habitat for so many species and help to preserve Earth’s natural resources for us all. This bear cub lives at Katmai National Park and Preserve, an area of rich and diverse ecosystems in southern Alaska that spans 4 million acres and is home to one of the largest protected bear populations.Desktop Version

Mar 5, 2018Seattle 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

Mar 11, 2018Daylight 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

Apr 19, 2018Craig 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

Jun 7, 2020A hermitage with a view

If this vivid landscape has you feeling pulled into the photo, take a deep breath before you look right or left. Or maybe just fix your gaze on the medieval brick ruin ahead—the Hermitage of La Pertusa in the province of Lleida in Spain"s northern Catalonia region. Glance sideways and you"ll be greeted by sheer vertical drops to the basin of the Canelles Reservoir, across which lies the region of Aragon—historically a powerful kingdom that ruled Catalonia and much of the Mediterranean.Desktop Version

Jan 26, 2021It 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

Dec 6, 2018The 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

Mar 24, 2018Crimson-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

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