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National Take a Hike Day
National Take a Hike Day
It"s National Take a Hike Day, so what better time to lace up those boots and head out on a trail to pay homage to John Muir, the patron saint (not really) of US hiking. Muir was instrumental in persuading the government that enjoying nature is the right of every American and that there should be an official national park system. He saw the spectacular beauty of the American West when he walked through the Sierra Nevada in California, and was passionate about preserving the country"s national wonders. In 1892, Muir founded the Sierra Club, an environmental organization that protects wild lands to this day.Desktop Version
Devetashka Cave, Devetaki, Bulgaria
Devetashka Cave, Devetaki, Bulgaria
Step through time and into the cavernous depths of Devetashka Cave in Bulgaria, a sprawling prehistoric complex which humans called home for tens of thousands of years. These days, it is home to bats, about 30,000 of them, as well as rare birds and reptiles. This karst cave was formed by erosion and is now part of a public park. Humans are thought to have sought shelter here as far back as the Early Stone Age, about 70,000 years ago, and many Neolithic artefacts from 6000-4000 BCE have been discovered. Several large openings in the cave cast natural light into the chambers, offering better illumination for photographers and nature lovers alike.Desktop Version
Storseisundet Bridge, Norway
Storseisundet Bridge, Norway
Norway"s picturesque Atlantic Ocean Road crosses eight bridges as it makes its way across islands, islets, and reefs to link the island of Averøya with the mainland Romsdal Peninsula. The longest of them, pictured here, is the Storseisundet Bridge. This bridge, surrounded by ample natural beauty, was tough to build. It took six years, and during construction workers were pelted by the region"s unpredictable weather, including 12 hurricanes. It opened in 1989 and remains a popular visitor attraction. With its dramatic curve and sudden incline, Storseisundet Bridge creates the illusion of suddenly disappearing into the ocean, making drivers skip a heartbeat. Its construction showcases the brilliance of Norwegian engineering, blending seamlessly with the landscape.Desktop Version
Rosa Parks Day
Rosa Parks Day
On Dec 1, 1955, Alabama native Rosa Parks took a stand when she refused to stand. Parks rejected bus driver James F. Blake"s order to vacate a seat on a Mongomery bus in favor of a white passenger and was arrested and fined for this act of civil disobedience. Parks then helped lead a boycott of Montgomery buses that lasted for over a year. The year-long protest finally ended when the US Supreme Court ruled that Alabama’s laws enforcing segregation on city buses and other modes of transportation were unconstitutional.Desktop Version
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
Few structures achieve the status of the Golden Gate Bridge—so recognizable that it needs no introduction. Opened on this day in 1937, the bridge was a marvel of engineering, built to withstand ferocious winds above and swirling currents below. Its construction was embraced by the local population because it would finally connect the rising metropolis of San Francisco to communities in Marin County and all that lay north. Before the bridge was completed, a ferry was the only way across the Golden Gate, the mile-wide strait that connects the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay. Building a bridge to cross the span would be no small feat, and many thought it impossible.Desktop Version
April Fools Day
April Fools Day
In honor of April Fools" Day, take a moment to appreciate this trick of the eye created by the French street artist and photographer who goes by the name JR. He"s known for surreptitiously posting large black-and-white photographs in public locations, often in humorous contexts. This cheeky public-art piece from 2021 was installed in the desert sands of the Giza pyramid complex in Egypt. The installation makes it look as if the detached tip of the Pyramid of Khafre magically hovers above its base.Desktop Version
Ceremony Hall at Sweden s Icehotel
Ceremony Hall at Sweden s Icehotel
Rebuilt every winter since 1989 in the northernmost county of Sweden, the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi is not only one of a kind each year, but the first of its kind established. Other ice hotels can now be found in Norway, Finland, Canada, Romania, and elsewhere, but this one is still the largest: The ice blocks harvested from the nearby Torne River to build the Icehotel weigh 2 tons each.Desktop Version
The Wall for Peace
The Wall for Peace
In today"s image, we"re featuring "The Wall for Peace" in Paris for the International Day of Peace. Since 2000, this exhibit, created by artist Clara Halter and architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, has been inspiring visitors to write their own messages of peace and place them in gaps intentionally created in the structure for that purpose. To mark the International Day of Peace, hundreds of events around the world are being held today, including peace fairs, music concerts, meditations, and more. The UN declared it a "day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples." One of the events today is at UN Headquarters in New York, where the secretary-general will ring the Peace Bell and participants will observe a minute of silence.Desktop Version
Pegadung Rock, Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia
Pegadung Rock, Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia
An unspoiled landscape carved by nature"s raw power, waves crash against Pegadung Rock on the southern coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. This remote beach boasts turquoise waters, but it is the striking rocks that steal the show, standing tall against the might of the Indian Ocean. The rock formations, some of which are 33 feet tall, have given rise to various nicknames, among them Gigi Hiu (shark teeth) and Batu Layar (rock screen) Beach. While this beach has no tourist accommodation, the nearby village of Kiluan presents a haven for visitors. For those ready to trade lounging for exploring, this Sumatran treasure awaits.Desktop Version
Bear Hole Brook, Catskill Mountains, New York
Bear Hole Brook, Catskill Mountains, New York
Stretched over 4,000 square miles in upstate New York, the Catskill Mountains captivate visitors with their breathtaking beauty. Towering peaks cloaked in forests surround valleys filled with meandering streams like Bear Hole Brook, seen in today"s image. The region boasts hiking trails that wind through enchanting woodlands, past waterfalls and lakes while motorists can enjoy scenic drives and spot the region"s covered bridges, dating from the 1800s. The Catskills also hold a place in cultural history, attracting artists and dreamers and as the fictional setting for the movie Dirty Dancing—which was actually filmed in Pembroke, Virginia. With other attractions including ski resorts and picturesque small towns and hamlets, visitors continue to flock to the Catskills, a huge wilderness within driving distance of more than 20 million Americans.Desktop Version
Extraterrestrial Culture Day
Extraterrestrial Culture Day
Evidence of ancient aliens? Nah, more likely the etchings of a prankster hiker. Though Pueblo peoples here in northern New Mexico made pictographs in this style several centuries ago, there"s no evidence they were depicting extraterrestrials. But don"t get us wrong: We want to believe.Desktop Version
World Turtle Day
World Turtle Day
With distinctive markings on their shells, western box turtles, such as the one seen here, are among the most widely recognized turtle species and one of two box turtle species in the US. Box turtles are named after their dome-shaped shells which are hinged at the bottom, allowing the shell to close like a box if it needs to hide from predators. They generally live for around 25 years but can survive for more than 50, and there have been reports of some living for 100 years.Desktop Version
Sand dunes in the Sahara, Algeria
Sand dunes in the Sahara, Algeria
The Sahara spans over 3 million square miles of North Africa, covering large parts of various countries including Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia. Vast sand dunes, rocky plateaus, and occasional oases create a landscape like no other. Although it is the largest hot desert in the world, the Sahara supports drought-resistant plants like acacia and palm trees, and hardy animals such as camels and fennec foxes. Intriguing features include its shifting sand dunes, pictured in today"s image, some of which are over 500 feet high. Ancient rock art and fossils have also been discovered here, providing insights into early civilizations and prehistoric creatures. Sandstorms are common, shaping the ever-changing scenery and adding to the mystique of this natural wonder.Desktop Version
Roman bridge of Córdoba, Spain
Roman bridge of Córdoba, Spain
The Roman bridge of Córdoba, in the ancient Spanish city’s historic center, has been rebuilt several times over the centuries. For 2,000 years it was the city’s only bridge across the Guadalquivir River, originally built in the first century BCE during the expansion of the Roman Empire. Much of the current bridge dates from reconstruction in the 8th century following the Moorish conquest, a period when hundreds of mosques and palaces were built, and Córdoba became one of Europe"s largest cities and a center of learning and culture.Desktop Version
National Bird Day
National Bird Day
Look up at the skies and experience the magic of birds—it"s National Bird Day. Birds come in many shapes and colors, but few are as striking as the plum-headed parakeet, seen in today"s image. Native to the Indian subcontinent, these birds are known for their swift, acrobatic flight and distinctive calls that echo through the air. There have been reports of plum-headed parakeets making their way to places like New York, Florida, and even parts of the Middle East.Desktop Version
International Polar Bear Day
International Polar Bear Day
Today we"re heading north for International Polar Bear Day. This event is the perfect time to learn more about the world"s largest bear species and the threats they face. Polar bears are native to the Arctic and can be found in Alaska, Russia, Greenland, and Svalbard. They"re also found in Canada—like the cub in today"s image, photographed in Churchill, Manitoba.Desktop Version
Burns Night
Burns Night
Today we"re wishing a very happy birthday to the man regarded as Scotland"s national poet and a pioneer of the Romantic movement, Robert Burns. Perhaps you can celebrate by visiting his statue at the Birks of Aberfeldy in Perth and Kinross, as seen in today"s photo. The birch trees here ("birks" in the Scots language) and a local waterfall inspired him to write a song lyric, "The Birks of Aberfeldy," in 1787.Desktop Version
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
While most know the US entered World War II after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, fewer know that the battle on December 7, 1941, actually started here on Oahu"s eastern shore at the old Kaneohe Bay Naval Air Station. Now a Marine Corps airfield, the base lies beyond the small, cone-shaped Mokoli"I Island in the background of this image.Desktop Version
La Rocque Harbour, Island of Jersey
La Rocque Harbour, Island of Jersey
Just off the coast of Normandy, France lies Jersey, a British island with a Norse name. Found on the southeastern shore of the island is La Rocque Harbour, home to a white, sandy beach and an elevated walkway that stretches out into the water. The shoreline"s granite and plutonic rocks, which originated more than 420 million years ago, showcase a variety of colors and textures. Visible from the harbor are the round, stubby Icho Tower and the taller Seymour Tower, built in the 18th and 19th centuries respectively as coastal defense structures. Both structures are over 1,800 feet away from the shore and can be reached on foot with a sturdy pair of shoes, but only on the days of the year where the tide is lowest.Desktop Version
Mount Fuji Day
Mount Fuji Day
Around 60 miles southwest of Tokyo stands one of Japan"s cultural icons: Mount Fuji. The country"s tallest mountain rises 12,000 feet above the surrounding landscape, with its near-symmetrical cone covered in snow for nearly five months each year. For centuries, Fujisan—as it is known in Japanese—has been worshiped as a sacred mountain. In the Shinto faith, Fuji is deified as Asama no Okami, and shrines dedicated to it are built within sight of the mountain.Desktop Version
Infinity Day
Infinity Day
This looping highway in Taipei bears a resemblance to the symbol of infinity—the concept of something without ends or limits that is celebrated today. Infinity Day is held on the eighth day of the eighth month, a nod to the symbol"s likeness to a sideways figure-of-eight. Established in 1987 by a New York-based philosopher, Jean-Pierre Ady Fenyo, the day celebrates freedom of thinking in its various forms, from philosophy through the arts and sciences. The symbol itself has a much longer history. English mathematician John Wallis is credited with introducing it as a mathematical symbol in 1655. The philosophical concept of infinity dates back at least as far as ancient Greece.Desktop Version
Pamukkale, Turkey
Pamukkale, Turkey
The stunning travertine terraces and hot pools of Pamukkale, Turkey, have dazzled visitors since at least the end of the 2nd century BCE, with the founding of the Greco-Roman thermal spa of Hierapolis. Since then, people have enjoyed a relaxing soak in the 97-degree Fahrenheit water, claiming curative powers for many ailments.Desktop Version
Eben Ice Caves, Upper Peninsula, Michigan
Eben Ice Caves, Upper Peninsula, Michigan
The Eben Ice Caves only exist during the freezing winters of Michigan"s Upper Peninsula. For the rest of the year, there are only sandstone cliffs and cedar trees here. But when temperatures drop, water flows over the canyon cliffs and turns into these beautiful, colorful ice formations.Desktop Version
Happy winter solstice!
Happy winter solstice!
The winter solstice is here. Today marks the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere, while last night was the longest night of the year. This has been an important event for millennia, with evidence of celebrations going back as far as 10,000 BCE. Some of the world"s most famous Stone Age monuments, including Stonehenge, are aligned with the point that the sun rises or sets on the winter solstice. Traditionally, it was a time for feasting and lighting of fires to symbolize the darkest day of the year. Ancient Germanic tribes celebrated the winter solstice by bringing evergreens into their homes as a symbol of the returning light and the coming spring.Desktop Version
Walk the line
Walk the line
Our homepage today shows two climbers slacklining between boulders near Bishop, California. Look closely and you’ll see something very similar to tightrope walking: The slackliners anchor a thin strip of webbing between two points and then walk across (very carefully, of course). Bishop is near the Sierra Nevada and is a popular destination for climbers interested in both slacklining and bouldering. What"s bouldering? That"s rock climbing without ropes or harnesses. Instead, climbers simply shimmy up rocky crags and free-standing boulders—but no higher than 20 feet, for safety’s sake. And where there are rock climbers, you’ll likely find slackliners.Desktop Version