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Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
Fancy a walk through the Smokies in Tennessee, seen in today"s image? Spanning over 522,000 acres between North Carolina and Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a treasure trove of natural beauty and biodiversity. Home to more than 19,000 documented species, scientists estimate that tens of thousands more remain undiscovered. Miles of hiking trails wind through the dense woodlands, leading adventurers to cascading waterfalls and scenic overlooks. The park also boasts some of the highest mountains in the eastern United States, including Clingmans Dome, which rises to 6,643 feet. Visitors are often enchanted by the mist that blankets the peaks each morning, giving the park its mystical name. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve.Desktop Version
Huntington Beach Pier, California, at sunset
Huntington Beach Pier, California, at sunset
In today"s image, we see the sun disappearing below the pier at Huntington Beach, California. First built in 1902, the pier was damaged by a storm and had to be rebuilt just nine years later. During World War II, a submarine lookout post was installed on the pier to help with the war effort. These days, it"s a popular spot for fishing and watching surfers ride the waves out in the Pacific Ocean.Desktop Version
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
These fascinating red hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah are best explored on foot! The park"s hiking trails guide you among the world"s largest collection of hoodoos, which are rock spires formed by erosion. The horseshoe-shaped natural amphitheaters create a surreal landscape that changes with the play of sunlight. The area was initially inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Paiute people. Although there is no evidence of them having lived there permanently, Paiute Indians used the Paunsaugunt Plateau for seasonal hunting and gathering. Designated a national park in 1928, Bryce Canyon is dotted with several viewpoints like Inspiration Point, Yovimpa Point, and Rainbow Point, which offer panoramic vistas of the surrounding topography.Desktop Version
Crescent-tail bigeye fish, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Crescent-tail bigeye fish, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Say hello to the crescent-tail bigeye, a fish as eye-catching as its name suggests. With large, wide eyes and a distinctive tail shaped like a crescent moon, it"s hard to miss. Measuring about 20 inches long, it has a sleek body and a protruding lower jaw with small conical teeth. Its eyes are adapted to the low-light conditions of deep waters, helping it spot prey and avoid predators. This fish mainly feeds on smaller fish, crustaceans, and invertebrates, fueling its active lifestyle as it patrols the reefs and hunts for food.Desktop Version
Masai giraffes in Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Masai giraffes in Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Masai giraffes roam the vast landscapes of Amboseli National Park in Kenya, as seen in today"s image. At 18 feet or more, giraffes are the world"s tallest land mammals. Along with prehensile tongues that are more than a foot and a half long, they use their impressive height to eat foliage found almost 20 feet from the ground. They"re also faster than you might think, being able to sprint over short distances up to 37 mph. Giraffes are common in East Africa and can be seen grazing in grasslands, woodlands, and reserves.Desktop Version
Splügen Pass, Switzerland
Splügen Pass, Switzerland
With their twists and turns, record heights, and breathtaking vistas, mountain roads are not for the faint-hearted. Pictured here is the historic Splügen Pass, which winds its way through the Lepontine Alps, on the border of Switzerland and Italy. Although its modern version was built between 1818-1823, the Splügen Pass existed in some form as far back as Roman times. At 6,936 feet high, it is one of the highest paved roads in Europe, with 51 marked hairpin bends. It is closed in winter but, if spectacular mountainside views and picturesque lakes tickle your fancy, you can enjoy this ascent between June and mid-October. Have we "peaked" your interest yet?Desktop Version
Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
Today"s photo features a spot in Sydney, Australia, where shimmery waters meet famous landmarks: Port Jackson, more commonly known as Sydney Harbour. In the center, we have a bird"s-eye view of the Sydney Opera House, an architectural icon with sail-like shells that shine bright under the Australian sun. Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, this UNESCO World Heritage Site took 14 years to complete and hosts over 1,500 performances annually. Just across the harbor, on the left side of the picture, the Sydney Harbour Bridge—affectionately called "the Coathanger" for its arching steel frame—connects the city"s northern and southern shores. When it opened in 1932, it was the world"s widest long-span bridge. Adventurous visitors can climb its 440-foot summit for breathtaking panoramic views.Desktop Version
International Day for Biological Diversity
International Day for Biological Diversity
Life on Earth, from tiny bacteria to towering trees, is interconnected. International Day for Biological Diversity is about celebrating this web of life that keeps our planet thriving. Biodiversity ties into everything, from sustainable farming and clean water to climate action and disaster preparedness. A decline in biodiversity can increase the spread of zoonotic diseases—those transmitted from animals to humans. In contrast, protecting biodiversity strengthens our ability to prevent and respond to health crises like pandemics. Recognizing its crucial role for current and future generations, the United Nations observes this day each year to raise awareness and foster action for conserving the planet"s biological treasures.Desktop Version
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
Get ready to revel—Mardi Gras is here! Also called Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday, the holiday was originally celebrated to live life to the fullest before fasting and giving up other indulgences for Lent. For some, it"s just an excuse to party.Desktop Version
Happy Valentines Day!
Happy Valentines Day!
Love is in the air today: it"s Valentine"s Day! Across the globe, millions of flowers will be sent, and romantic restaurants will be fully booked. This holiday has its origins in the story of Saint Valentine, a 3rd-century Roman priest who, according to legend, secretly married couples to spare the husbands from conscription into the Roman army.Desktop Version
European river otter, Netherlands
European river otter, Netherlands
The European river otter is more than just an adorable face in the wild. Found across Europe, Asia, and parts of northern Africa, these otters thrive in clean rivers, lakes, and wetlands, serving as an important indicator of environmental health. They are built for agility, with streamlined bodies, webbed feet, and dense fur that keeps them warm even in icy waters. A single square inch of their fur can hold more than 400,000 hairs, making it one of nature"s most effective insulators. River otters were once endangered due to pollution and habitat loss. Thanks to conservation efforts, their populations are rebounding in many regions across Europe.Desktop Version
World Octopus Day
World Octopus Day
Today, we celebrate a creature with three hearts and the uncanny ability to change color at will: the octopus. Octopuses are cephalopods, marine animals like squids and cuttlefish that have tentacles. Among their many species is the small and shy mototi octopus, pictured here. It was discovered in 1999 around Rapa Island in the South Pacific and is known for the "fake eyes" or ocelli—vibrant blue and yellow rings—between its eyes and arms. Found in the Indo-Pacific region, including Indonesia, Australia, and Okinawa in Japan, mototi octopuses are masters of disguise. They usually have a dull orange-cream-brown color but when alarmed, they can quickly shift to striking maroon with white stripes along their body and arms. Also known as poison ocellate octopuses, these cephalopods are highly venomous. But you don"t need to worry about running into one, because they tend to be shy and solitary, often hiding in crevices, shells, or man-made objects like bottles and cans.Desktop Version
Ring of Brodgar, Orkney, Scotland
Ring of Brodgar, Orkney, Scotland
At the heart of the Orkney Islands, an archipelago in northern Scotland, lies an ancient riddle: the Ring of Brodgar. Dating back to sometime between 2500 and 2000 BCE, this Neolithic henge—a type of ancient circular earthwork—and stone circle measure about 340 feet across. Lying on a narrow strip of land between two lochs, the site initially comprised 60 stones, although today only 36 remain. The exact purpose of the structure is still unknown, despite an excavation project at the site in 2008. In 1999, the Heart of Neolithic Orkney group of monuments, which includes the Ring of Brodgar, was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you are planning a trip to Scotland, consider walking amid the echoes of history at the Ring of Brodgar while the crisp Scottish air embraces you.Desktop Version
World Meerkat Day
World Meerkat Day
It is World Meerkat Day, a celebration of these adorably upstanding creatures. Despite the name, they are not related to cats. They"re small carnivores of the mongoose family, native to the deserts and grasslands of southwestern Africa. Meerkats live in mobs, tight-knit groups of up to 30 individuals that forage together, groom each other, and take turns watching for predators. These critters create huge burrows where they spend the night and retreat to escape the midday heat.Desktop Version
West Cornwall Covered Bridge, Connecticut
West Cornwall Covered Bridge, Connecticut
Covered bridges like West Cornwall Covered Bridge, pictured in today"s image, were designed with roofs and siding to protect their wooden structures from weathering, greatly increasing their durability. While many were built in the 19th century, few have survived to the present day, and the ones that have are often preserved for their historical and visual significance.Desktop Version
Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month
We"re kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month with this beautiful mural celebrating the contributions made to the Buffalo, New York, region by the Hispanic and Latinx communities. Artist, community activist, and educator Betsy Casañas, with the assistance of many local artists, created this mural called "Homeland, Perhaps It Is Because I Wish to See You Fly, That My Flight Continues to Be Yours." Its subjects highlight local cultural heritage, including portrayals of agricultural production and industrial work. Through conversations with members of the community, Casañas incorporated symbolism inspired by the mixed and integrated Latinx community of Buffalo.Desktop Version
Sea lion in a kelp forest, Baja California, Mexico
Sea lion in a kelp forest, Baja California, Mexico
Take a stroll along almost any marina from Costa Rica to Alaska, and you"ll likely hear the playful barks of sea lions echo through the air. California sea lions, like the one pictured, are a common sight basking in the sun along the rocky shores of North America"s western coast. These marine mammals, belonging to the pinniped group, are often mistaken for seals. An easy way to distinguish between them is by looking at their ears—sea lions have visible flaps, seals don"t.Desktop Version
Wadden Sea coast, Friesland, Netherlands
Wadden Sea coast, Friesland, Netherlands
If you"ve ever dreamed of walking on water, or something close to it, the Wadden Sea is the place for you. Tracing over 300 miles along the coast of the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers a unique landscape of tidal flats and wetlands. In fact, it is the world"s largest unbroken intertidal zone—underwater at high tide and exposed at low tide—of sand and mud flats. The area is also a playground for aquatic species such as houting fish, brown trout, and white-beaked dolphins, and is home to birds like waders and herons.Desktop Version
Remembering Jimmy Carter
Remembering Jimmy Carter
Thursday, January 9 is a national day of mourning in the United States in honor of former President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29 at 100 years old. After his lying in state at the Capitol, a funeral for the 39th president will be held today at Washington National Cathedral. The federal government will be closed today, as will other institutions, including the New York Stock Exchange. Our photo shows the Capitol dome on December 30, 2024, with flags flying at half-staff in honor of the longest-lived US president.Desktop Version
Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Welcome to this eco-travelers" paradise in the middle of the Pacific. Situated halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa, the Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge was established in 2001 to conserve, manage, and restore the nation"s fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats.Desktop Version
Castle Day in Japan
Castle Day in Japan
From Strawberry Day to Cat Day and even Vegetable Day, Japan has a list of faux holidays, which are the clever results of "dajare" or word plays. Today"s date, April 6, makes up the Japanese word for castle, "shiro" from "shi" (4) and "ro" (6). Hence, the celebration of castles. What better opportunity than Castle Day, to learn about the country"s largest and most-visited castle, Himeji Castle? Dating back to 1333, this UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts an advanced defensive design and five National Treasure structures. The castle has also withstood time and nature"s fury, surviving the bombings of World War II and the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995. Nearly 700 years of glory, local legends, and ghost stories reverberate through the 83 rooms of this hilltop fortress. Would you care to explore?Desktop Version
Independence Day
Independence Day
Today the sky sparkles with shades of patriotism as our nation celebrates its Independence Day! The Declaration of Independence was adopted by delegates from the 13 colonies on July 4, 1776. The Founding Fathers proclaimed that the colonies were now unified, independent, and sovereign states, no longer under the authority of Britain"s King George III.Desktop Version
Heri es-Swani in Meknes, Morocco
Heri es-Swani in Meknes, Morocco
An imperial city in northern central Morocco, Meknes is steeped in history. Once the capital of Morocco under Sultan Ismail Ibn Sharif of the Alawi dynasty in the 17th century, it"s known for its massive walls, grand gates, and structures built to last centuries. Meknes reflects the Moroccan style of architecture, with one of its most impressive landmarks being Heri es-Swani, seen in today"s image.Desktop Version
A young jaguar on a riverbank, Pantanal, Brazil
A young jaguar on a riverbank, Pantanal, Brazil
Spot the wildlife star in today"s image. The jaguar is the largest cat in the Americas and is seen here in the world"s largest tropical wetland, the Pantanal in Brazil. Jaguars arrived in the Americas some 2 million years ago, migrating from Eurasia through the Bering Strait. Today, they live in various habitats from the woodlands of the southwestern US to the rainforests of northern Argentina. Brazil is home to about half of the world"s wild jaguars.Desktop Version
International Tiger Day
International Tiger Day
We"re off to a roaring start today: It"s International Tiger Day, which aims to protect these magnificent big cats amid threats such as poaching and habitat loss. At the end of the 19th century, there were thought to be around 100,000 tigers in the wild; these days, there are fewer than 6,000.Desktop Version