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Jun 24, 2020Midsummer in Sweden

This mirrorlike lake—pictured not at dawn nor dusk, but under the tireless midnight sun that marks Scandinavian summers—lies just outside Örebro, a midsized city in south-central Sweden. To Swedes, late June is synonymous with Midsummer, a solstice festival with roots in ancient, pagan Europe that was later combined with the June 24 Christian feast of John the Baptist.Desktop Version

Apr 8, 2018It’s Draw a Bird Day

Both male and female resplendent quetzals have the bright body feathers, though the color on males is generally even brighter. During mating season, the males—like this one, photographed in Costa Rica—grow double tail feathers that usually measure longer than the bird’s body. In fact, some tail feathers can form a train up to three feet long. If you want to celebrate Draw a Bird Day today, maybe the resplendent quetzal will inspire you. Time to break out the crayons?Desktop Version

Jan 5, 2022National Bird Day

In honor of National Bird Day, observed every year on January 5, we"re at the Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve in the Pichincha Province of Ecuador, a 2,000-acre conservation area that was established in 1981. Bellavista is located at high altitude, in the northwestern Andes mountains, and is home to a huge variety of bird species, including the plate-billed mountain toucan you see here.Desktop Version

Dec 30, 2021Westerheversand Lighthouse

Even in the places most altered by humans, nature seems to slip through, like the Milky Way shown here peeking between light beams from Germany"s Westerheversand Lighthouse. This beacon lies along the Wadden Sea, which forms the world"s largest tidal flat along the Dutch, German, and Danish coasts.Desktop Version

Jun 27, 2020Looking for peace on the precipice

The Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona sits on an outcropping almost 2,500 feet high overlooking the Adige River Valley in northern Italy, near the city of Verona. Since the Middle Ages, this spot has been a destination for religious pilgrimages. The faithful are drawn no doubt by the views and, perhaps, the dangerous path to get there—enlightenment shouldn"t come easy.Desktop Version

Jun 29, 2020Goats don t grow on trees

You"re not seeing things—these goats in Essaouira, Morocco, have climbed high up into an argan tree. And it"s not a one-time event. The goats enjoy the small yellow fruit these trees produce, and when the low-hanging fruit is gone they"re willing and able to make the climb. Goats aren"t the only ones benefitting from these trees. The nuts from argan trees are used to produce argan oil, which is edible and also used for some rather pricey cosmetics, making it a valuable export.Desktop Version

Jun 25, 2020Hoisting a flag for seafarers

Here above the chilly seas off Iceland, we"re peering down at a tall ship called the Gorch Fock—a training vessel of the German navy. Built in 1958, it replaced the original 1933 Gorch Fock, which was seized by the Soviets in the wake of World War II (but is now back home in Stralsund, Germany, as a museum ship). Because traditionally rigged tall ships are valued as tools for learning general sailing skills, the "58 Gorch Fock is still in official service—but for much of the 21st century, it"s been in and out of dry dock for repairs and safety improvements.Desktop Version

Jun 10, 2018Travel Sunday: Sintra, Portugal

Perched atop a hill overlooking the city of Sintra, Pena Palace is one of Portugal’s most iconic national monuments, and would be a romantic setting to celebrate Portugal’s National Day today. The June 10 holiday commemorates the death of Luís de Camões, a literary icon in Portugal who is revered for his adventurous spirit. It’s said the one-eyed poet (he lost the other eye in a fight) saved his most famous work—titled "Os Lusíadas"—from destruction during a shipwreck by holding the manuscript above water while he swam with one arm.Desktop Version

May 17, 2021Happy Syttende Mai!

If you have Norwegian roots, May 17, aka Syttende Mai, is a day to celebrate. On this day in 1814 the constitution of Norway was signed, declaring Norway an independent kingdom. Today we honor this stunning country by looking out over the town of Ålesund, nestled amid mountains and fjords in the western part of the country. This seaport stretches across several islands linked by bridges and is known for its charming art nouveau architecture. In ordinary years, Ålesund draws hordes of tourists and serves as a gateway for visitors to explore the bird island of Runde as well as Geirangerfjord, considered one of Norway"s most beautiful fjords.Desktop Version

Mar 16, 2018Celebrating National Panda Day

This giant panda seems content to be indulging in his favorite snack at the Wolong National Nature Reserve in the mountains of Sichuan, China. Bamboo makes up 99 percent of a panda’s diet, and it must consume upwards of 30 pounds of the woody grass each day to meet its dietary needs. This presents a predicament, as human development continues to encroach on the bamboo forests of pandas’ natural habitat. National Panda Day, celebrated on March 16, aims to spread awareness about this iconic species.Desktop Version

Dec 13, 2018Iceland awaits the Yule Lads

If you’re spending the holidays here in Reykjavik, be sure to keep an eye out for Sausage-Swiper, Window-Peeper, and Door-Slammer. They’re three of the Yule Lads, a group of 13 mischievous pranksters who—according to local folklore—visit homes one by one to leave rewards or punishments for children on each of the 13 days leading up to Christmas. Tonight, the Gully Gawk is scheduled for a visitation, waiting for an opportunity to sneak into the cowshed and steal milk. Modern versions of the lads sometimes portray them in a benevolent light, even dressed like Santa Claus, but other stories are dark. The lads are said to be the sons of Gryla, a mountain troll with an appetite for mischievous children. Let’s hope we’re on the nice list this year.Desktop Version

Apr 12, 2021In orbit for Yuri s Night

Sixty years ago today at around 9 AM Moscow time, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to get a view of Earth from space (like this one captured from the International Space Station by astronaut Jeff Williams). With the famous utterance "Poyekhali!" ("Off we go!"), Gagarin launched into low Earth orbit in his Vostok 3KA spacecraft, making history in less than two hours with a complete trip around the planet. Landing in rural Russia, he became an instant worldwide celebrity—that is, after convincing puzzled locals he was a comrade and not a space alien.Desktop Version

Feb 11, 2019There’s a dog in there somewhere

Komondors, also known as Hungarian sheepdogs, have a strong instinct to herd and protect livestock. They’re famous for their distinctive coats—when left untrimmed, a komondor’s fur ‘cords’ up, creating the unusual, mop-like appearance seen here. The Komondor in this photo was competing at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden. The 2019 Westminster competition begins today.Desktop Version

Jan 1, 2022New Year s Day

This harp seal is starting 2022 off right. While many of us may be napping today to recover from New Year"s Eve celebrations, this seal is napping because it can. All the noise and excitement were last night, just 40 miles away at New York City"s ball drop, but it"s quiet enough here at Long Island"s Jones Beach for our sleepy friend to recuperate in the sand. Harp seals are one of five types of seals that populate Jones Beach from November to May. They travel from as far away as the Canadian Arctic and northwestern Greenland to rest up and feed before making their way north again in the spring.Desktop Version

Aug 23, 2020Reflections of the night sky

Because August is such a fantastic time for stargazing, we’re looking skyward at this spectacular nighttime scene of the Milky Way over the Totensee, a small natural lake in Switzerland. In the Northern Hemisphere, the nights are still long and remain warm, so if you"re lucky you can catch the always thrilling sight of a falling star. Tonight would be a good night to look for one because we"re at the tail end of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Like most predictable meteor showers, it occurs when the Earth"s orbit intersects with the long elliptical path of one of the millions of comets that orbit the sun. It is called the Perseid meteor shower because the bulk of the meteors will appear to originate out of the constellation Perseus. So, turn out the lights, head outside, and look up!Desktop Version

Aug 7, 2019Nubble Island’s only industry

For National Lighthouse Day, we’re visiting Cape Neddick Light, which sits on a tiny island called Nubble Island, or "the Nub"—just 100 yards from the mainland. It"s on Maine"s southern shore and is one of just eight lighthouses in Maine that still use a Fresnel lens, the 19th-century invention that greatly amplifies the light. The island isn"t accessible to the public, but because it"s so close, many visitors come to Sohier Park on the cape for the view of the lighthouse. Why August 7 for National Lighthouse Day? Because it was this day in 1789 when the US government placed all lighthouses under federal control to make sure these important safety signals were all built, supported, and maintained equally.Desktop Version

May 1, 2020It s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

As Asian Pacific American Heritage Month kicks off today, we"re visiting Kubota Garden in Seattle, part of the city"s extensive park system. The 20-acre Japanese garden is tucked away in the Rainier Beach district—one of the traditional centers of Seattle"s Asian American community.Desktop Version

Nov 8, 2021Polar bears

Welcome to Churchill, Manitoba, population 899 (if you don"t count the bears, or the many human visitors who come around this time each year to glimpse the world"s largest land carnivore).Desktop Version

Dec 2, 2019Wild and beautiful Alaska

In honor of Alaska National Parks Day, we"re traveling to Kenai Fjords National Park—home of the awe-inspiring Exit Glacier, seen here. The park sits at the edge of the North Pacific Ocean where frequent winter storms dump the snow that feeds this land of ice. The Harding Icefield crowns the park with at least 38 flowing glaciers—one of which is Exit Glacier. Exit Glacier is known for being one of the most visited of Alaska"s glaciers, likely because it’s accessible via the Seward Highway. In mid-November, the road to the glacier closes to cars due to heavy snowfall, so visitors can only get there using snow-friendly transportation like dogsled or cross-country skis.Desktop Version

May 17, 2020My my, it s Syttende Mai

Home to only about 500 folks, the far-flung village of Henningsvær, Norway, is recognized for its historic charm and as part of the Lofoten Archipelago"s important cod fishery. And thanks to the recent boom in drone photography, the Arctic hamlet with the unlikely soccer field has come to be regarded among the most scenic on Earth. The Henningsvær Idrettslag Stadion (in our photo"s lower center) lies at Henningsvær"s southern tip, on flat ground hewn out of the rocky outcrop. Look closely at the hills around the stadium and you"ll see wooden racks for drying cod—a reminder that even though there"s space for fun on these tiny islets, the business of fishing is still very much a key part of life here.Desktop Version

Feb 21, 2018Innerdalsvatna Lake, near Ålvundeidet, Norway

All is calm and quiet here at Norway’s Innerdalsvatna Lake. This Scandinavian country has made headlines in recent years for its efforts to protect the environment, and natural scenes just like this. Its parliament has pledged to go carbon neutral by 2030, an ambitious effort that would rely on carbon offsets. The country is also known for its wide adoption of plug-in electric vehicles, boasting the largest fleet per capita in the world.Desktop Version

Jan 21, 2020Observing a squirrelly day

January 21 is Squirrel Appreciation Day. Really. It was established by Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabilitator from North Carolina, to draw attention to the importance of these remarkably widespread creatures. Native to five continents and currently living on six (there"s no Antarctic squirrel), there are about 285 species of squirrels in the world, ranging from the tiny African pygmy squirrel to the Bhutan giant flying squirrel (when in Bhutan, be ready to duck).Desktop Version

Oct 18, 2020Sitka shines on Alaska Day

In honor of Alaska Day, we"re in the harbor of Sitka, Alaska, which was the capital of Russian America in the 19th century, when it was called Novo-Arkhangelsk. It was here on this day in 1867 that officials of the Russian Empire formally transferred the Territory of Alaska to the United States in a sale for $7.2 million, or just around 2 cents per acre. It seems an astonishingly small price today, but at the time, opponents called it "Seward"s Folly" after then-Secretary of State William H. Seward, who negotiated the deal. Few Americans moved to the "Last Frontier" at first, but in the 1890s, when gold was discovered in the Yukon and Alaska, a rush of prospectors and others began a wave of settlers in the territory. Ever since, Alaska, with its vast natural resources and staggering beauty, has been a prized American domain and an enduring symbol of American wilderness.Desktop Version

Sep 3, 2020Tall, taller, tallest

Piercing the clouds above Shanghai as we celebrate National Skyscraper Day, each of these three supertall spires could be seen as a freeze-frame of China"s swift economic growth in the past couple of decades. Jin Mao Tower (right, 1,380 feet) was China"s tallest building from 1999 until the Shanghai World Financial Center (left, 1,614 feet) opened in 2007 and took the title. Shanghai Tower (center, 2,139 feet) topped out in 2013, besting the SWFC and becoming the second-tallest skyscraper in the world (behind Dubai"s Burj Khalifa, 2,722 feet).Desktop Version

Jan 22, 2019Is this Minecraft headquarters?

This pixelated-looking building is home to a boutique winery in the Rioja region of northern Spain. Inside, the Bodegas Ysios produces red wine from Tempranillo grapes grown in the area. The building itself was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava to echo the outline of wine barrels lined up in a row. Out here in the foothills of the Sierra de Cantabria, it creates a memorable contrast with the rustic environment.Desktop Version

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