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Marine Day, Japan
Marine Day, Japan
Today, we"re floating across the waves, following the ocean currents to Japan. Marine Day—海の日, Umi no Hi in Japanese—is celebrated on the third Monday in July. Japan has 14,125 islands and has over 18,400 miles of coastline, so it"s no wonder the sea plays such a key role in its culture. It provides much of the country"s food and is vital for trading and communicating with other nations.Desktop Version
Death Valley National Park, California
Death Valley National Park, California
Stretching for miles below the desert sun, the salt flats of Badwater Basin shine in Death Valley National Park, California. This sweltering spot is the lowest point of elevation in North America, 282 feet below sea level. In this otherworldly landscape, the hardened mineral surface glistens like a mirror as the scorching heat dances upon it, creating rippling waves in the air. Composed of sodium chloride, borax, and other minerals, the flats" brittle crust conceals a treacherous mud layer beneath. For those who venture beyond the flats and up a mountainside, Dante"s View reveals a panoramic view of Badwater Basin from a height of nearly 5,500 feet. With its surreal landscapes, Death Valley National Park serves up unique beauty in the harshest of conditions.Desktop Version
International Jazz Day
International Jazz Day
Born in the Black communities of New Orleans, jazz music quickly caught on outside the Big Easy and became an international sensation. Due to its improvisational nature, jazz never stays the same, fusing with other cultures and genres to create styles such as Afro-Cuban, Latin, and Indo Jazz. UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and jazz pianist Herbie Hancock created International Jazz Day to celebrate the global genre, first held in 2012 with events in New York, Paris, and New Orleans. We hope you celebrate by putting on your favorite jazz record, or if you can swing it, visit New Orleans" legendary jazz venue, Preservation Hall, seen in our photo here.Desktop Version
Arbor Day
Arbor Day
With a little love, support, and luck, this wee sprout at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in California has a big future in store. It"s a coast redwood, the species that includes the tallest trees on Earth. Some top out at more than 350 feet tall and live for over 2,000 years. These redwoods are heroes of nature, affecting the weather and climate, while creating conditions essential for a healthy ecosystem along this stretch of the Pacific Coast.Desktop Version
Edinburgh festivals
Edinburgh festivals
Here"s the world-famous Edinburgh Castle, lit up in all its glory as it keeps watch over Scotland"s capital city. Today the castle hosts the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a full-on Scottish experience, with bagpipes, drums, and seemingly enough kilts to cover all of Scotland. Enthusiastic visitors can also indulge in whisky and haggis in one of the many hostelries on the Royal Mile, the colorful, bustling historic street that wends its way from the castle down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Queen Elizabeth II"s official residence in Scotland.Desktop Version
Cuban tody, Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, Cuba
Cuban tody, Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, Cuba
The tiny Cuban tody can only be found on Cuba and its neighboring islands. Despite their colorful plumage, including that sparkling green head, their size can make them hard to spot. However, they are easy to hear. The soft sound of "pprreeee-pprreeee" or a short "tot-tot-tot-tot" will tell you there"s a tody somewhere nearby.Desktop Version
Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day
It"s Groundhog Day … again. Today, Americans and Canadians rely on the prognostication skills of Punxsutawney Phil to determine if winter will hang on. Phil is a famous groundhog, also known as a woodchuck, and legend has it that if he emerges from his burrow February 2 and sees his own shadow, he"ll go back to sleep for another six weeks of winter. If he doesn"t, it will be an early spring. German immigrants brought the custom to America, where it was first celebrated in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, in 1887. Historically, Europeans celebrated February 2 as the first day of spring, and Germans originally watched badgers and other small animals for signs of seasonal change important to farmers. The Germans who settled in Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries chose the area"s native groundhog for this task.Desktop Version
National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington, DC
National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington, DC
Every spring, Washington, DC, transforms into a sea of pink and white as the cherry trees bloom, marking the return of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. This beloved event commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo"s Mayor Yukio Ozaki to the US, symbolizing the friendship between the two nations.Desktop Version
International Roller Coaster Day
International Roller Coaster Day
From single rails to virtual reality, roller coasters have been thrilling people for centuries. Their origins can be traced back to 17th-century Russia, where wooden slides—"Russian Mountains"—provided seasonal entertainment. The first roller coaster was built in early 19th-century Paris, France. Called "Les Montagnes Russes à Belleville," it featured wheeled carts securely attached to tracks. By the 1900s, coasters were looping the loop for the first time.Desktop Version
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Today, many Americans will spend time with friends and family, giving thanks and enjoying what some consider to be the best meal of the year. The tradition dates back to English colonists who celebrated the first Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1621. Their treacherous journey from England the year before and their first winter claimed half of the colonists, and the rest might have died too if not for the generosity of the Wampanoag people. To celebrate their first corn harvest and thank the Native Americans who helped them, the colonists held a three-day feast.Desktop Version
Boxing Day
Boxing Day
As the last notes of Christmas carols linger in the air, Boxing Day arrives. This day is celebrated in the United Kingdom, Canada, and several Commonwealth countries. In the past, it was customary for the wealthy to give boxes filled with gifts to their servants on the day after Christmas. The tradition evolved into a day for charitable giving to the less fortunate. Today, while the spirit of giving remains, it has transformed into a holiday about enjoying bustling sales and a lineup of soccer matches.Desktop Version
Tigh Mor Trossachs on Loch Achray, Scotland
Tigh Mor Trossachs on Loch Achray, Scotland
Fairy-tale castle? Check. Stunning Scottish backdrop? Check. Calm, tranquil loch? Check. If Tigh Mor looks idyllic to you, you"re not alone. Queen Victoria spent time here in its heyday, and though the old hotel (it was built in 1849) declined over the years, a multimillion-dollar restoration has brought it right back to its former glory.Desktop Version
International Day for Biological Diversity
International Day for Biological Diversity
On this day when we honor all the world"s species and their interdependence, the Burchell"s zebra and the cattle egret give us a great example of commensalism, a type of symbiosis in which one species gets a benefit without helping or hurting the other species: As the zebra grazes in the grass, it stirs up insects for the egret to eat.Desktop Version
Sea Otter Awareness Week
Sea Otter Awareness Week
We"re celebrating Sea Otter Awareness Week with this laid-back little guy in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Sea otters are native to the northern and eastern coasts of the North Pacific Ocean. They"re expert foragers, diving to the seabed to find food and using rocks to crack open shellfish, one of the few animals that use tools. There used to be as many as 300,000 sea otters in the wild, but they were heavily hunted for their dense fur for almost two centuries. By 1911, it is thought that only around 2,000 sea otters were left. Thankfully, an international hunting ban and conservation efforts have helped them rebound in their historic habitat to an estimated 125,000. Despite this success, some populations continue to struggle, and sea otters are still an endangered species. So, unlike our homepage star, we can"t relax on sea otter conservation just yet.Desktop Version
Pride Month
Pride Month
On June 28, 1969, protests erupted over a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village in New York. This watershed moment—at a time when homosexuality was still illegal in most US states—launched an era of activism and resistance that would transform into a celebration of LGBTQIA+ love and pride. Today, Pride Month is observed in the United States and in dozens of countries around the world. Taking place every June, the month-long celebration of LGBTQIA+ communities also highlights their struggles and achievements. The goal of Pride is to promote the acceptance of love in all its forms, so that LGBTQIA+ communities have the respect, dignity, and equality they deserve.Desktop Version
Celebrating World Olive Tree Day
Celebrating World Olive Tree Day
Today, we"re not just offering you an olive branch—we"ve got the whole tree. November 26 is World Olive Tree Day, so we"re taking some time to appreciate this amazing plant. Olive trees were first cultivated in the eastern Mediterranean around 8,000 years ago. From there, they were introduced to the Greek islands and mainland by the Phoenicians, then farther afield, reaching Spain and the western edge of the Mediterranean by around 1000 BCE. The olive branch has been a symbol of peace since ancient times, and olive trees have been grown for their oil, wood, and fruit for millennia.Desktop Version
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
"Oak"tober is upon us and that means it"s time to turn over a new leaf! Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park spans over 200,000 acres. As summer bids farewell, the park undergoes a transformation, unveiling its most enchanting chapter: the fall season. The leaves put on their fanciest outfits—reds, oranges, and golds—creating an amazing show you won"t want to miss.Desktop Version
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
Ever wonder how some of our rivers stay unspoiled? It"s thanks to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which was signed into law on this day in 1968. This legislation created the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System which preserves rivers with exceptional natural, cultural, and recreational qualities.Desktop Version
Festivus
Festivus
Family time during the holidays isn"t always harmonious. Sometimes you might be tempted to channel this chinstrap penguin and give your nearest and dearest an earful. If you need a break from all the seasonal joy, Festivus might be the holiday for you. The idea was popularized in a "Seinfeld" episode, which detailed the Costanza family"s December 23 traditions, including putting up an unadorned aluminum Festivus pole and airing their year-end personal grievances. Since the episode debuted in 1997, Festivus has taken on a life of its own both among fans and people looking for an alternative way to celebrate the season. While most embrace the trappings of the holiday season, Festivus is for the rest of us.Desktop Version
World Space Week
World Space Week
It"s World Space Week, an opportunity to celebrate humanity"s extraterrestrial achievements, as well as the benefits that come from space exploration and technology. The star of our homepage is actually a star-forming region known as the Tarantula Nebula, found in the same group of galaxies as our Milky Way. This detailed image was captured by the powerful James Webb Space Telescope and shows thousands of never-before-seen stars, previously obscured by cosmic dust. The nebula"s colossal size and dynamic energy offer plenty of compelling material for astronomers and stargazers of all stripes.Desktop Version
Paralympic Games begin in Paris
Paralympic Games begin in Paris
The Summer Paralympic Games get underway in Paris today. Over 4,000 athletes with a range of disabilities from all around the world will meet in the French capital to compete across 549 different events. For its first time hosting the Summer Paralympics, the city has got something special in store for the opening ceremony. Delegations from 184 nations will parade down the iconic Champs-Élysées to the Place de la Concorde, rather than entering a stadium. The first official Paralympic Games were held in Rome in 1960. Twenty-three nations took part, competing in eight sports, including wheelchair basketball and Para athletics.Desktop Version
Cousins Day
Cousins Day
Family gatherings wouldn"t be the same without them. Today, we are celebrating the unique bond between cousins. Cousins Day offers the perfect opportunity to reminisce about those shared adventures, secrets, and the countless memories that have brought you closer together. First cousins share about 12.5% of their DNA; this could explain why you often have so much love and understanding with them. So, go ahead and make some plans with your cousins, whether it is a picnic or a shared meal at your favorite local haunt. And while you are at it, don"t forget to pose for a photo, much like this group of Swaledale sheep in the North Yorkshire dales of England. Chances are, there are at least a few cousins in this flock.Desktop Version
Western Monarch Day
Western Monarch Day
Western Monarch Day celebrates a stunning natural phenomenon, the annual migration of thousands of flame-colored butterflies to California. Traveling south to escape the winter weather, they use air currents to help them make journeys of hundreds of miles. They descend to gather in large numbers on eucalyptus trees, like the ones pictured on our homepage today in Goleta, Santa Barbara County. Those gathered to see clusters of butterflies in 100-foot-tall trees might confuse them for clumps of leaves at first. However, as the sun"s rays gently fall upon them, their wings will begin to flutter. Bring your binoculars and take the opportunity to witness these winged wonders huddled together. It"s truly a sight to behold!Desktop Version
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year
The streets come alive today with a symphony of firecrackers, red lanterns, and cheerful chatter—it"s Chinese New Year. Steeped in thousands of years of tradition, this holiday marks the start of the lunisolar Chinese calendar. One of the most captivating images associated with this festival is the dragon dance, pictured here. Skilled dancers manipulate a long, flexible dragon puppet, bringing it to life with sinuous, undulating movements. The dragon, a symbol of power, dignity, and good fortune, is believed to bring luck to the community, with longer dragons bringing even more prosperity.Desktop Version
Saint Andrews Day
Saint Andrews Day
Put on your tartan and let the bagpipes play—it"s St. Andrew"s Day! Scotland"s national day is a public holiday there—though not everyone takes the day off. A fisherman by trade, St. Andrew—also the patron saint of several other countries including Greece, Barbados, Romania, and Ukraine—was one of the 12 apostles and a key figure in Christianity. Though he never set foot in Scotland, his influence is immortalized in the country"s flag, a white saltire on a blue background, said to represent the cross on which he was martyred.Desktop Version