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National Park Week continues
National Park Week continues
As National Park Week unfurls its green banners, let"s take a stroll down Sparks Lane, a gem situated within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. Established in 1934, the park encompasses over 522,419 acres of wilderness. The forests, which cover most of the park, are home to 1,500 species of flowering plants, 952 algae, 65 species of mammals, and over 240 species of birds, making it an International Biosphere Reserve.Desktop Version
Hyalite Creek at Custer Gallatin National Forest, Montana
Hyalite Creek at Custer Gallatin National Forest, Montana
Today we"re taking a little fishing trip just south of Bozeman, Montana, to Hyalite Creek, which runs through Custer Gallatin National Forest. This is one of the most heavily visited recreation areas in Montana, especially for those who like to fish. Late-1800s logging operations in the surrounding forest damaged the habitat for trout in Hyalite Creek, but stream restoration projects have increased trout populations to such an extent that this is now considered a world-class destination for fly fishing.Desktop Version
Aqueduct, Arkadia Park, Poland
Aqueduct, Arkadia Park, Poland
Founded in 1778 by aristocrat Helena Radziwiłłowa, Arkadia Park is an English-style landscape park in central Poland. The park displays architecture and landscapes that evoke ancient and medieval eras, like this recreation of a Roman-style aqueduct. These features are brought to life by the garden"s lush greenery, tranquil water, and intricately crafted sculptures throughout the grounds, which illustrate the beauty of intermingled nature and art. Today, Arkadia Park stands as a testament to Helena Radziwiłłowa"s lasting vision and creative legacy.Desktop Version
The city of Osaka at night, Japan
The city of Osaka at night, Japan
In the heart of Japan, where the past and future intertwine, lies a city pulsating with life and culture—Osaka. Traditionally an economic hub, Osaka has twice served briefly as the imperial capital, once in the 7th and once in the 8th century. It flourished culturally during the Edo period (1603–1867) and became a major industrial center after the Meiji Restoration in1868, which restored imperial rule to Japan.Desktop Version
Celebrating Festivus
Celebrating Festivus
"A Festivus for the rest of us!" This is the unofficial motto of a non-commercial alternative to Christmas. Celebrated on December 23, Festivus was popularized by the TV show "Seinfeld," although it was actually invented by the family of one of the series" writers. The celebration centers around the unadorned aluminum Festivus pole. After dinner, the traditional Festivus "airing of grievances" gets underway. This consists of telling friends and family the ways they"ve disappointed you over the year. This can provide some much-needed catharsis at what can be a stressful time of year. The day traditionally concludes with feats of strength. Once the head of the household has been pinned, Festivus is officially over. Those who embrace this farcical holiday welcome the opportunity to let off some steam amid the Christmas build-up chaos—much like these red-crowned cranes in Hokkaido, Japan.Desktop Version
Halemaumau Crater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Halemaumau Crater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
As National Park Week wraps up today, let"s explore a park in a land sculpted by fire and time—Hawai"i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. The Halema"uma"u Crater is an intermittent lava lake in Kīlauea, one of Earth"s most active volcanoes. Since it was first documented in 1823, volcanic activity has caused the crater to fill with lava, partially collapse, erupt in fountains of lava, expand to twice its size on two occasions, and at times fill with groundwater. All this activity demonstrates the unpredictable raw power that lies below the surface of the Earth. The natural and cultural importance of this site led to the establishment of Hawai"i Volcanoes National Park in 1916, and to it being named a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site in the 1980s.Desktop Version
National Park Service Founders Day
National Park Service Founders Day
Join us as we celebrate the American wilderness on National Park Service Founders Day. Today we honor the foresight of visionaries who spearheaded the creation of the NPS. This organization was established by President Woodrow Wilson to conserve wildlife, maintain natural landscapes, preserve historical artifacts, and offer educational programs. You can enjoy this day by visiting one of 429 national parks in the country and diving into ranger-led programs, volunteer efforts, and celebratory events to learn more about the history.Desktop Version
Totally Thames Festival, London
Totally Thames Festival, London
Welcome to the Totally Thames Festival in London, England. Each year, it brings together communities, artists, and nature enthusiasts in a month-long tribute to the river. Highlights for 2024 include the annual boat marathon, Great River Race, and the Clean Thames Challenge.Desktop Version
Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Today, on Memorial Day, many will no doubt stand before this fountain on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Dedicated 18 years ago as our national World War II Memorial, it"s become one of the most popular sites in the nation"s capital, and now receives more than 4 million visitors each year. To the west, toward the setting sun, is the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial. To the east, unseen here, is the Washington Monument.Desktop Version
Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day
Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day
The second Monday of October is used by many to celebrate Indigenous Peoples" Day, as an alternative to Columbus Day, held on the same date. It highlights the customs and heritage of the Indigenous Peoples who lived in North America before the arrival of European settlers, and the devastating impact colonization had upon them.Desktop Version
Autumn in Alaska
Autumn in Alaska
It"s that time of year when Alaskan caribou are beginning to feel a little frisky. From late September until early November, males will be strutting their stuff, locking antlers with one another, and competing for the attention of females in hopes of furthering the species. Successful males will mate with 15-20 females a season. After the rutting season males will shed their antlers while females keep theirs until spring. In today"s photo we"re looking at some caribou in southcentral Alaska crossing the Susitna River.Desktop Version
Okefenokee Swamp
Okefenokee Swamp
The Okefenokee Swamp, on the border of Georgia and Florida, is the largest intact freshwater swamp in the US. Its slow-moving blackwaters are stained by tannins from decaying organic matter and this vast ecosystem, covering 700 square miles, is packed with wildlife. Herons, cranes, bitterns, American alligators, turtles, snakes, frogs, and Florida black bears are among creatures who roam the swamp, which is largely protected by the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. In the early years of the 20th century, part of the swamp was logged, and its peat deposits were mined for use as fuel. Remnants of railroad lines can still be seen crossing swamp waterways as well as other equipment dating from its time as a logging area.Desktop Version
Ukrainian Independence Day
Ukrainian Independence Day
Ukrainian Independence Day takes on a greater meaning this year, as Russian troops occupy its eastern provinces and the invaders" shells rain down on its citizens. On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War that began with Russia"s annexation of Crimea in 2014. NATO and Europe have rallied to Ukraine"s cause, and a war that many expected to last weeks has stretched into months, with the Western-backed Ukrainian forces thwarting Putin"s ambitions and not showing any signs of relenting.Desktop Version
Mangrove Conservation Day
Mangrove Conservation Day
Although we think of forests as trees on land, some of the most important trees grow in water, or more precisely, marshland. Mangrove forests, like this one in Saloum Delta National Park in Senegal, are vital components of the world"s coastal ecosystems. Mangroves survive where no other trees can, in salty, low-oxygen coastal waters exposed to tides and storms. They grow up to 30 feet high primarily in tropical and subtropical regions and are able to store vast amounts of carbon, making them crucial to moderating our climate. Mangroves also act as nurseries for fish and aquatic life. And with their complex, interwoven root systems, they protect coastlines from erosion. Today we join the UN in shining a light on the necessity and fragility of mangroves: July 26 is the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.Desktop Version
Tortula moss, Netherlands
Tortula moss, Netherlands
You may be surprised to learn that this elegant plant dappled with water droplets is a variety of moss: Tortula muralis, better known as wall screw-moss. It"s found all over the world, even in urban areas where more sensitive mosses have a hard time thriving because of dry soil and air pollution. Mosses in general are accurate monitors of air pollution—they absorb air and water, so contaminants can also be measured in their cells.Desktop Version
World Rivers Day
World Rivers Day
If you are a nature enthusiast, or simply enjoy listening to the sound of rumbling rivers, you might like to know that today is World Rivers Day. First held in 2005 during the United Nations" "Water for Life’ campaign, it was proposed by Canadian river conservationist Mark Angelo, who founded BC Rivers Day in western Canada in 1980. World Rivers Day is held on the fourth Sunday of September to celebrate and raise awareness of the benefits that rivers provide to people and the planet.Desktop Version
Black History Month
Black History Month
Born in New Orleans around the turn of the 20th century, with a sound that came from the blues, ragtime, and call-and-response vocals, jazz music is a notable chapter in Black history. You can almost hear John "Dizzy" Gillespie playing his signature bent trumpet, featured on our homepage today. Gillespie made his name in bebop, often called the first modern form of jazz, playing alongside other greats including Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Thelonious Monk. Black musicians created genres like rock and roll, funk, hip-hop, and soul, the soundtrack to American culture and Black history.Desktop Version
Ansel Adams birthday
Ansel Adams birthday
Born on this day in 1902, Ansel Adams remains one of the most celebrated photographers in history, renowned for his striking black-and-white images of the American wilderness. His work immortalized the grandeur of national parks like California"s Yosemite, pictured here, showcasing the raw beauty of nature with depth and clarity. A pioneer of "pure photography," Adams believed in capturing a scene"s natural essence without manipulation, a principle he championed through his development of the Zone System—a technique to control exposure and contrast.Desktop Version
AAPI Heritage Month & Lei Day
AAPI Heritage Month & Lei Day
May 1 means different things in different parts of the world, but here in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it means Lei Day, a statewide celebration of Hawaiian culture and the spirit of "aloha," that intangible sense of warmth, belonging, and connection that emanates from this isolated chain of volcanic islands. Lei Day was first celebrated in 1927 and made an official holiday in 1929. It also happens to fall on the first day of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which honors Americans of Asian, Melanesian, Micronesian, and Polynesian heritage. May is the month the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the US in 1843, and the month the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869 by, mostly, Chinese immigrants.Desktop Version
Presidents Day
Presidents Day
The United States of America has had 46 commanders in chief, and today, the third Monday of February, we commemorate their legacies. Initially established to honor George Washington"s birthday, Presidents Day has evolved into a celebration of all presidents. Revered among them is Abraham Lincoln, a towering figure in American history, who guided the country through the Civil War and abolished slavery in America. The Lincoln Memorial, seen in today"s image, overlooks the Reflecting Pool at the west end of the National Mall in Washington, DC. Designed in a neoclassical style, the memorial is a poignant destination for those seeking to connect with American history during Presidents Day, and beyond.Desktop Version
Christmas tree at Crystal Pier, San Diego, California
Christmas tree at Crystal Pier, San Diego, California
Santa has plenty of runway to land, but good luck trying to find a chimney. Today, we"re getting ready for Christmas at Pacific Beach in San Diego, California. While it might not snow here, there"s still plenty of yuletide spirit leading up to Christmas in sunny Southern California. Among many beautiful examples on San Diego"s Christmas Tree Trail is the 20-foot tree at the end of a festively decorated Crystal Pier.Desktop Version
Great Backyard Bird Count
Great Backyard Bird Count
For the next four days, birdwatchers all over the world will be taking part in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Bird lovers will identify the feathered friends they see or hear in their area and report their findings. The data helps scientists protect birds by providing information about how populations and habitats change over time.Desktop Version
World Elephant Day
World Elephant Day
Today is World Elephant Day, when we focus on these remarkable creatures and pledge to protect them. African elephants, like those shown here, are the largest living land animals, with bull elephants standing a whopping 13 feet tall at the shoulder. Their distinctive trunks and big, flapping ears make them one of the first animals every child can recognize. Adults marvel at the close family bonds they create and the way a herd rallies to protect its members, grieving when one dies. They form a strong, social community over their life span of about 60 to 75 years.Desktop Version
Silent night, sparkling lights, and hearts full of joy
Silent night, sparkling lights, and hearts full of joy
Christmas markets in Germany are a cherished holiday tradition that welcome visitors into a magical world of twinkling lights, festive music, and delicious seasonal treats. These markets date back to the Middle Ages and are held in town squares throughout Germany, with iconic examples in cities such as Nuremberg, Munich, and Dresden. Each market displays unique regional crafts and festive customs. Here, guests can discover handcrafted ornaments, wooden toys, and cozy winter accessories, along with specialties like Glühwein (mulled wine), Lebkuchen (gingerbread), and roasted nuts—ideal for enjoying while immersing themselves in the enchanting atmosphere.Desktop Version
Badlands National Parks 45th anniversary
Badlands National Parks 45th anniversary
The strange stripes in our homepage image reveal tiers of fossil beds in Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Beneath the multicolored surface lies the land"s history, including the remains of ancient horses, camels, tigers, and rhinos. The barren landscape, dotted with pinnacles and prairies, was formed by two geological processes: deposition, where the layered rocks were gradually stacked up on top of each other by inland seas, winds, and rivers over millions of years, and erosion, which began about 500,000 years ago. The Red Shirt Table, at 3,340 feet, is the highest point in the park, which was established on this day in 1978. It protects 379 square miles of rocky buttes, pinnacles, and prairies. This inhospitable terrain was called "Mako Sica," or "land bad" by the Oglala Lakota people, who have lived here for hundreds of years. Still thirsty for knowledge? Visit the national park"s museum collection. There are over 360,000 objects that have a lot more to reveal!Desktop Version