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A hit ballet, long after its debut
A hit ballet, long after its debut
These days, Tchaikovsky’s ballet ‘The Nutcracker’ is an iconic holiday entertainment staple, produced by companies around the world. In this photo, the Moscow Ballet performs the seasonal crowd-pleaser in Toruń, Poland. But when the ballet debuted this day in 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia, it was not a hit. ‘The Nutcracker’ was revived and restaged in the early 20th century, but still didn’t make an impact. Then in 1944, the San Francisco Ballet performed the American debut of the ballet to great acclaim. It became a true Christmastime classic 10 years later, when choreographer George Balanchine staged his own 1954 production with the New York City Ballet. Balanchine’s version caught on and inspired other dance companies to stage it themselves. Today, ‘The Nutcracker’ is often such a draw that a staging of Tchaikovsky’s Christmas fantasy can help keep a ballet company financially stable.Desktop Version
A hint of spring
A hint of spring
Native to Western Europe, and especially popular in Great Britain, snowdrops are the bulb you"ll want to plant if the cold, drab landscape of winter gets you down. These small bulbs bloom very early—sometimes as soon as January—and are commonly associated with the promise of spring. But plant enough of them, or come across a naturally occurring patch, and it can look like a light dusting of winter snow has coated the ground. Need a little hope to get you through this last stretch of winter? Look no further than the lovely snowdrop.Desktop Version
Happy Father s Day
Happy Father s Day
These lions in southern Africa’s Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park probably aren"t heading out for Father"s Day brunch. Cubs are usually protected by their mothers, while their fathers merely tolerate them in most cases. While stereotypes might suggest that the same holds true for humans, a Pew Research study showed that dads are just as likely as moms to say that parenting is extremely important to their identity, and dads are much more involved in child care than they were years ago. It took dads a while to earn this day. Father"s Day was first celebrated in 1910 in Washington state. While it gained popularity over the years, it didn"t become a national holiday until President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation in 1972. Mother"s Day got a proclamation in 1914, but let"s not get competitive here—today"s about dad.Desktop Version
Great on so many levels
Great on so many levels
Water flows evenly over seven distinct tiers of packed earth at Huay Mae Khamin Waterfall, a remote gem four hours northwest of Bangkok. Part of Khuean Srinagarindra National Park, the waterfall features a trail network leading up to each terrace, offering visitors a close-up look at every level of the picturesque cascade.Desktop Version
A Carpathian Christmas celebration
A Carpathian Christmas celebration
Nestled at the foot of Mount Tampa in the Southern Carpathian Mountains of Romania, Brașov is a wonderful example of medieval Europe"s intersecting cultures. Founded by Teutonic Knights, settled by Saxons and Hungarians, and influenced by the Ottoman Empire, the Tartars, and the native Romanians, the city"s Gothic architecture and unique cuisine reflect its rich history. The city"s Christmas market is held throughout the month of December and is dominated by a 90-foot-tall, live Christmas tree. The market"s numerous stalls feature food, drink, and local crafts.Desktop Version
The first ascent
The first ascent
Greetings from base camp at Mount Everest, the highest peak on Earth. For most of us, pictures are as close as we’ll get to this iconic destination, which was first summited on this day in 1953. Mountaineers Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made the historic first ascent and achieved instant fame. The two spent 15 minutes on the summit, with Norgay leaving an offering of sweets.Desktop Version
High tide at the walled city
High tide at the walled city
Saint-Malo was founded by the Gauls more than 2,000 years ago and has an appropriately rich and storied history. Built on the Brittany coast of the English Channel, Saint-Malo became an important stop for ships coming into and out of Western Europe. And because of its strategic location, Saint-Malo was, for a time, a favorite spot for pirates, corsairs, and privateers—as ships made their way through the channel, pirates lurking off the Saint-Malo coast could pounce easily while French authorities looked the other way.Desktop Version
Summertime in Alaska
Summertime in Alaska
Humpback whales are famous for breaching—leaping out of the water in a spectacular display of size and power. Even though they can weigh more than a house and stretch to 50 feet in length, they still manage aquatic acrobatics that are amazing to behold, as the picture on our homepage captures so beautifully. Scientists don"t know why some whales breach but speculate it"s a form of communication or a mating display. Or maybe they"re just having fun.Desktop Version
Happy birthday to Crater Lake National Park
Happy birthday to Crater Lake National Park
Roughly 7,700 years ago, give or take 150 years, Mount Mazama erupted and collapsed, creating a massive crater that would become Crater Lake. Fast-forward to this day in 1902, and Crater Lake National Park was established. With a maximum depth of 1,943 feet, equivalent to 3.5 Washington Monuments, Crater Lake is also the deepest lake in the US.Desktop Version
Harvest season begins
Harvest season begins
Today we"re in Kathmandu, Nepal, where the Boudhanath stupa stands out against the skyline. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the stupa is on the ancient trade route from Tibet—traders have rested and offered prayers here for centuries. Like all stupas, Boudhanath is a mound-like structure containing relics. It was first built sometime after the 600s, when Buddhism was first spreading through Tibet and Nepal. It"s long been a major pilgrimage site for Buddhists, and is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha, one of the 29 named ancient Buddhas.Desktop Version
All Rhodes lead to the beach
All Rhodes lead to the beach
Welcome to sunny Rhodes, Greece, an island of stunning beaches and steeped in history. Rhodes sits just off the coast of Turkey and has been occupied for more than 3,500 years by a parade of empires, from Minoans and Persians to Greeks, Romans, and Arabs, and even a Catholic order of knights. It is still famous for being the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—the Colossus of Rhodes—even though there"s no visible trace of the statue since it was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BCE, having stood for just 54 years.Desktop Version
Lace up your hiking boots for Mountain Day
Lace up your hiking boots for Mountain Day
Here in Japan, Mountain Day began just two years ago as a way to encourage residents to get out and explore Japan’s beautiful mountains. Mount Fuji’s Yoshida Trail, seen in this photo, is open only a short time every year, so it might be busy today. If Fuji, or any mountain, is beyond your reach, consider the seasonally appropriate ‘forest bath’ as an alternative. In Japan, a forest bath is a form of nature therapy, with no undressing, soap, or water required. Simply go to a wooded area and relax, soaking in the clean air and natural sounds as you calm your thoughts. (Is it working yet?)Desktop Version
A glittering diamond in the rough
A glittering diamond in the rough
Peering from this vantage point you may wonder, how in the world could anyone access this hut nestled in Germany"s Bavarian Alps? By hiking in, of course. There are well over 1,000 such huts dotting the Alpine landscape throughout Europe, most of them built and maintained by private social clubs devoted to climbing, hiking, and other activities in the mountains. These huts allow hikers to light out onto the extensive trail systems, sometimes for days, while carrying as little gear as possible. No need to pack cooking equipment, tents and sleeping bags when you have guaranteed shelter each night, with dinners, breakfasts, and, if you"re lucky, a hot shower, included.Desktop Version
A hermitage with a view
A hermitage with a view
If this vivid landscape has you feeling pulled into the photo, take a deep breath before you look right or left. Or maybe just fix your gaze on the medieval brick ruin ahead—the Hermitage of La Pertusa in the province of Lleida in Spain"s northern Catalonia region. Glance sideways and you"ll be greeted by sheer vertical drops to the basin of the Canelles Reservoir, across which lies the region of Aragon—historically a powerful kingdom that ruled Catalonia and much of the Mediterranean.Desktop Version
Stepping stones in Tollymore Forest Park, Northern Ireland
Stepping stones in Tollymore Forest Park, Northern Ireland
If historic Tollymore Forest Park brings to mind knights and castles, it’s no surprise. The site in Northern Ireland was used as a filming location for the popular ‘Game of Thrones’ TV series. Encompassing 1,600 acres in County Down, the park is rich with lush greenery, but explorers will also find historic stone gates, bridges, and arches—some dating back to 1726.Desktop Version
Have a ‘beary’ good Earth Day
Have a ‘beary’ good Earth Day
Is it just us, or does this brown bear cub look like he’s hugging a tree? If we’re correct, it might be because this tree-hugger is celebrating Earth Day, an event that falls during National Park Week this year. It’s a fitting alignment of events, because national parks protect important habitat for so many species and help to preserve Earth’s natural resources for us all. This bear cub lives at Katmai National Park and Preserve, an area of rich and diverse ecosystems in southern Alaska that spans 4 million acres and is home to one of the largest protected bear populations.Desktop Version
Where the wildflowers grow
Where the wildflowers grow
In honor of National Wildflower Week, we"re looking at a splash of blooming bluebonnets, the state flower of Texas. If you notice bluebonnets and other blooms while traveling down Texas highways, thank the state"s Department of Transportation, which sows tens of thousands of pounds of wildflower seeds along roadways each year.Desktop Version
Craig Goch Dam in the Elan Valley of Wales
Craig Goch Dam in the Elan Valley of Wales
The masonry dam is the highest upstream of four dams in the Elan Valley region. It turns the Elan River into the Craig Goch Reservoir. With its curved retaining wall and series of arches, the Craig Goch Dam is widely considered the most elegant of the Elan Valley Reservoirs.Desktop Version
A Great view from above
A Great view from above
At 132,974 square miles, the Great Barrier Reef is about half the size of Texas, a statistic that becomes even more amazing when you learn the reef was created by teeny, tiny marine invertebrates. Coral reefs are formed when colonies of coral polyps secrete hard exoskeletons made of calcium carbonate, slowly building an underwater home that supports marine life of all shapes and sizes. That’s a feat worth protecting.Desktop Version
It s Australia Day
It s Australia Day
If this aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef is a reminder that you ❤ everything Australia, today"s your day. Australia Day commemorates January 26, 1788, when the first transplants from England said g"day to Australian shores, but you can just call it a day to celebrate all things Aussie. From the Barrier Reef to the rugged bush to the dry Outback, we invite you to join the diverse people of Oz in celebrating their island nation (well, we can almost join the Aussies—it"s tomorrow for them already, so they celebrated yesterday).Desktop Version
The owl that loved football
The owl that loved football
As the name indicates, you’ll find the Eurasian eagle-owl across Asia and Europe. The eagle-owl in our photo today lives near Helsinki, Finland. Why an eagle-owl on Finnish Independence Day today? When Finland’s national team was playing a qualifying match against Belgium in 2007, an eagle-owl flew onto the pitch, delaying the game for several minutes. Ever since, the Finnish team has been nicknamed ‘Huuhkajat’—the eagle-owls. The owl, called ‘Bubi,’ was later named Citizen of the Year in Finland.Desktop Version
Join the parade for World Elephant Day
Join the parade for World Elephant Day
Today is World Elephant Day, an observance created to raise awareness of the plight of elephants around the world and prompt action on their behalf. Poaching and habitat loss have affected elephant populations, but places such as Kruger National Park in South Africa have deployed a suite of solutions to counter their decline. With technology, stronger laws, and training, Kruger National Park’s rangers and park staff work hard to defend elephants from poachers every day. Like Kruger Park, we all have a part to play in protecting elephants. Let’s keep up the good work.Desktop Version
A wild and scenic scene
A wild and scenic scene
Some of our nation"s most treasured rivers are protected thanks to a program that was first established on this day in 1968. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act aims to preserve rivers with "outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations." That"s something we can get behind.Desktop Version
Arrr, it be Talk Like a Pirate Day
Arrr, it be Talk Like a Pirate Day
These sailboats in Warnemünde, Germany, set the scene perfectly for International Talk Like a Pirate Day. The holiday (yeah, we"re calling it a holiday) was first imagined in 1995 by two Oregon residents. September 19 was chosen for the annual observance since one of them had an ex-wife whose birthday fell on that day and they figured they could remember it. A few years later, seeking widespread adoption, they pitched the idea to humor columnist Dave Barry, who wrote, "Every now and then, some visionary individuals come along with a concept that is so original and so revolutionary that your immediate reaction is: "Those individuals should be on medication."" From there, it went viral, and these days, September 19 is celebrated internationally, with major brands and media personalities joining in the silliness. We"re fans, too. Just picture us typin" this here with an eye patch, peg leg, an" pocket full o" swag doubloons. Arrr!Desktop Version
Daylight saving time begins
Daylight saving time begins
To mark the start of daylight saving time today, we venture off to Olomouc, a city in the Czech Republic. In the city’s Upper Square, next to the tower of the 15th-century Town Hall, is Olomouc’s famous astronomical clock. The clock doesn’t just keep the time of day, but tracks the phases of the moon, days of the year, and even has a star map to indicate what might be visible in the night sky. In this photo, you can see the buildings of the square reflected in the clock’s face.Desktop Version