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A peak in the clouds
A peak in the clouds
World Meteorological Day brings us to Washington"s Mount Rainier, a huge stratovolcano with a habit of creating its own weather systems. Jutting out about 2 miles above the surrounding landscape, its high altitude interrupts the flow of air that comes in off the Pacific Ocean, creating dramatic weather such as the saucer-shaped clouds on our homepage. They"re called lenticular clouds, and because of their distinctive appearance, they"ve been suggested as an explanation for some UFO sightings. Thanks to the science of meteorology, we know they"re a normal weather phenomenon, commonly occurring on the downwind side of obstructions such as mountains, buildings, or other tall structures.Desktop Version
Why does this panda cub look so happy?
Why does this panda cub look so happy?
It"s National Panda Day!Desktop Version
Cecil Brewer Staircase, London
Cecil Brewer Staircase, London
This stunning staircase spirals up through three floors at Heal"s department store in central London, where it has been helping shoppers get around in stylish fashion since 1916. It was designed by architect Cecil Brewer ahead of the opening of an in-store art gallery. While the gallery no longer exists, the Cecil Brewer Staircase remains a popular part of the store"s heritage, particularly with photographers looking to capture a little London glamour. The lights at the outer edge of the stairs were added after World War II, and the elegant chandelier cascading from top to bottom was installed in 2013. If you visit, keep an eye out for a bronze cat on a windowsill overlooking the stairs, the store"s not-for-sale official mascot.Desktop Version
At the shore of an inland sea
At the shore of an inland sea
We"re looking out from a cavern at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan"s Upper Peninsula. The area"s named for its colorful sandstone cliffs, which stretch for 15 miles along the shores of the largest of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior. As groundwater leaches out of the rocks, it carries minerals such as iron, manganese, and copper that paint the cliffs in shades of red, pink, black, green, and other colors. The park itself, which is roughly the size of five Manhattans, boasts waterfalls, beaches, and rock formations—some resembling human profiles and castle turrets—carved over time by relentless waves and the unforgiving weather of Yooper Country.Desktop Version
Upstate autumn
Upstate autumn
Paddle out onto Connery Pond in the Adirondacks of upstate New York and you may be treated to this mist-shrouded peekaboo tease from Whiteface Mountain. We"re near the town of Lake Placid, known to many as the two-time home of the Winter Olympic Games, in 1932 and again in 1980. The Alpine skiing events in 1980 were held right on the slopes of Whiteface Mountain.Desktop Version
Terraced fields of green
Terraced fields of green
Twice a year, all of Bali, Indonesia—including those who live and work in the lush, green rice terraces you see here—join together to celebrate the country"s most important holiday, Galungan. This 10-day Balinese-Hindu milestone always comes at the end of the traditional 210-day Balinese calendar, usually in March or April, and then again in September or October.Desktop Version
Taking the scenic route
Taking the scenic route
Often called the most beautiful train ride in Switzerland, if not the world, the Bernina Express offers spectacular views on its sightseeing routes that connect towns in southeastern Switzerland to Tirano, Italy. It"s been in operation here since the late 1800s. The classic route takes about four hours and departs from Chur, Switzerland. Outfitted with panoramic windows, the train passes through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges, some more than 100 years old, like the Landwasser Viaduct pictured on our homepage today. The cheerful red train winds its way up and over the Bernina Pass in the Alps, reaching an elevation of 7,392 feet. Pay special attention during the stretch from Thusis to Tirano—this portion of the route was designated a World Heritage site in 2008. Reservations recommended!Desktop Version
Happy Hobbit Day
Happy Hobbit Day
Today is Hobbit Day, marking the anniversary of the "Long-Expected Party," which sets in motion the "Lord of the Rings" book series. September 22 is the birthday of both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, the protagonists of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" respectively.Desktop Version
Jasper Dark Sky Festival
Jasper Dark Sky Festival
We"re in Canada"s Jasper National Park, one of the best stargazing spots in the world, to witness the Comet NEOWISE shooting across the night sky. NEOWISE, discovered on March 27, 2020, happens to be the brightest comet in Earth"s northern skies since Comet Hale-Bopp became visible to the naked eye in 1997.Desktop Version
Waiting for the perfect shot
Waiting for the perfect shot
We’re celebrating Camera Day by getting a glimpse of what goes into taking a good photo. In the case of today’s image, that means standing in the cold surf on a beach in Norway at night, while keeping the shutter on the camera open long enough to capture something as ephemeral as the northern lights. Ask any experienced nature photographer: as glamorous as all the travel might seem, much of the job requires patience.Desktop Version
Welcome to the Year of the Pig
Welcome to the Year of the Pig
Today marks the start of Chinese New Year festivities, which begin on the first day of the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. The celebration culminates 15 days later with the Spring Lantern Festival. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2019 is the Year of the Pig. These lanterns were photographed in Xi"an, China, but celebrations will occur throughout the vast nation as well as in neighboring countries. And other parts of the world with significant Asian populations will also see large public celebrations. It’s traditionally a time to reunite with relatives, and the period sparks one of the largest annual human migrations, with millions of people from major cities journeying home to see their families in more rural areas. Happy New Year!Desktop Version
Leaves of Grass
Leaves of Grass
If you feel inclined to lounge on the lawn today, we encourage you to crack open a copy of ‘Leaves of Grass,’ the life’s work of American poet Walt Whitman, whose birthday is May 31. When ‘Leaves of Grass’ was first released in 1855 it was considered controversial for its imagery of sexuality among other wide-ranging topics. Expressed as a form of free verse without rhyme and with ever-changing meter and rhythm, Whitman’s style was highly personal, but also expansive, meant to reflect the limitless possibilities of Americans and the United States itself. He spent years revising and adding to the compilation of poems and today is regarded as one of the most important of American poets. He once said, "Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you."Desktop Version
That bill s just not going to fit
That bill s just not going to fit
Today we"re visiting Costa Rica, where this magnificent chestnut-mandibled toucan is fashioning a nest in the cavity of a tree. It can be hard to find a suitable space for this, the largest toucan in Costa Rica, so mating pairs will often use an abandoned woodpecker"s nest or find a large hole in a decaying part of a tree. This one seems perfectly formfitting.Desktop Version
Keep watching the skies
Keep watching the skies
There are two World UFO Day observances, one on June 24 and the other today, and you’re free to celebrate both. Though today’s observance takes inspiration from the famous Roswell UFO incident of 1947 in New Mexico, our photo was snapped in northeastern Wyoming, at the striking natural geographical feature known as Devils Tower.Desktop Version
Green is the new black
Green is the new black
Black Friday traditionally marks the start of the holiday shopping season, but while bargain hunters scramble online this year to bag a discount or two, we"ve found a treat that money can"t buy—this view. Here on the crystalline waters of a lake in Glacier National Park, there"s no waiting in line as we take in the stunning scenery and marvel at the towering snow-capped peaks along the Continental Divide. If you prefer your adventure to take place on dry land, there are over 700 miles of trails to hike within the park—perfect for burning off those turkey and pumpkin-pie calories.Desktop Version
Visiting Ahch-To on Star Wars Day
Visiting Ahch-To on Star Wars Day
If some other corner of the Internet hasn"t already told you, May 4 is Star Wars Day. (Say it out loud: "May the Fourth," "May the Force…" Get it?) Fans of the movies will recognize the island we"re looking at as Ahch-To, where Luke Skywalker went into exile before Rey found him at the end of "The Force Awakens." Fans of travel and history may know that it"s really Skellig Michael (the Great Skellig), with Little Skellig seen in the background. Together they make up the Skellig Islands, just off the southwest coast of Ireland.Desktop Version
Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC
Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC
Presidents" Day seems an apt time to showcase this perspective of the Jefferson Memorial, reflected in the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. Construction on this memorial to our third president began in 1938, but it didn’t come without controversy. In an event dubbed the Cherry Tree Rebellion, some 50 women chained themselves to a Japanese cherry tree to protest the removal of trees that would be lost to make way for the monument. The cherry trees had been a gift from the city of Tokyo in 1912. Ultimately, the protest didn’t delay the project, some trees were lost but others were planted, and the memorial was complete in 1943.Desktop Version
Cannes, France, in the spotlight
Cannes, France, in the spotlight
Since its founding in 1946, the Cannes Film Festival has become known for the glamour and luxury of its host city, which sparkles day and night. Celebs come to hang out on yachts and be seen on the red carpet at the Palais des Festivals convention center. But it"s not all about the glitz—Cannes is considered one of the three most prestigious European film festivals, along with the Venice Film Festival and Berlin International Film Festival. This year, the French Directors’ Guild will honor horror legend John Carpenter ("Halloween," "Christine’) with the Carrosse d"Or (Golden Coach Award) for his body of work. New films will compete for the festival"s top prize, the Palme d"Or.Desktop Version
In the Navajo Nation for Code Talkers Day
In the Navajo Nation for Code Talkers Day
This expansive and iconic view, as seen from Hunts Mesa in the Navajo Nation, is none other than Monument Valley, also known as the Valley of the Rocks when translated from the Navajo language (Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii). The red sandstone formations are synonymous with the American Southwest and have stunned moviegoers for nearly a century. The largest of American Indian territories, Navajo Nation covers more than 27,000 square miles and reaches into portions of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico.Desktop Version
Happy Pi Day!
Happy Pi Day!
To celebrate Pi Day this March 14 (or 3/14 or 3.14), we visit the balmy waters of Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas. Two Atlantic spotted dolphins were photographed here blowing a bubble ring, also known as a toroidal ring. And if they were to calculate the circumference of their bubble ring, they’d need to use our favorite irrational number, π.Desktop Version
Did it see its shadow?
Did it see its shadow?
For many people, the last year has been a bit like the movie "Groundhog Day," with every day feeling the same. But today actually is Groundhog Day. This marmot in Austria popped up to see…a rainbow? We"re not sure what that means for the weather forecast, but it feels like a good sign. (The groundhog is a type of North American marmot.) In the US, the tradition says that if the groundhog sees its shadow, six more weeks of winter are in store. If it doesn"t, then we"re looking at an early spring. There"s no science behind it; the custom has its roots in Pennsylvania Dutch culture and was popularized by the Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper in Pennsylvania in 1887—and again by the Bill Murray movie in 1993.Desktop Version
A unique perspective from Italy’s ‘golden sands’
A unique perspective from Italy’s ‘golden sands’
This is a photo–not a painting–of a beach in Lignano Sabbiadoro (Sabbiadoro roughly translates as ‘golden sand’ in Italian). The town and commune is a popular summer getaway in northern Italy, on the Adriatic Sea coast. And no, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you—the optical illusion was intentional. It’s a composite image created by combining multiple exposures. We hope it takes you to a vacation state of mind, even if you can’t get to an actual beach this summer.Desktop Version
Bridge over the River Tara
Bridge over the River Tara
In northern Montenegro, the Đurđevića Tara Bridge is the fastest passage between the villages of Budečevica and Trešnjica. The five-arch concrete bridge was completed in 1940 just as World War II was spreading across Europe. By 1941, Italian forces from the Axis powers had invaded this region. Local guerrilla fighters took an extreme measure to keep the Italian army from crossing the Tara River Valley: They blew up one of the arches, making the bridge unpassable and slowing the advancement of the invading forces. The bridge was rebuilt in 1946, and though it retains its original name, some still call it the anti-fascist bridge. And now you know an awesome story about a bridge in Montenegro.Desktop Version
Road to Sa Calobra, Majorca, Spain
Road to Sa Calobra, Majorca, Spain
Though twists and turns abound on this road leading to Sa Calobra, on the Spanish island of Majorca, you"d have a hard time getting lost out here—there"s only one road in and out of this coastal town. Rather than cut a more direct path through the mountains via tunnels, the road"s designer chose to incorporate numerous switchbacks and hairpin turns, allowing sightseers to journey above ground. After all, if you make the long trip to this Mediterranean island paradise, you won"t want to miss a thing—just keep an eye on the road too!Desktop Version
‘Stepping’ into Black History Month
‘Stepping’ into Black History Month
The African American tradition of stepping (aka step-dancing) uses footsteps, claps, and the spoken word to create intricate rhythms. These dancers are part of Step Afrika!, an American dance company dedicated to the tradition of stepping. They’re shown here rehearsing ‘The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence’ at their home base, Atlas Performing Arts Center in Washington, DC. ‘The Migration’ is a show that tells the story of African American migrants who moved away from the rural American South to the more industrialized North in the years between World War I and World War II. On stage, the performance features a backdrop of images from artist Jacob Lawrence’s ‘The Migration Series,’ a group of 60 paintings he made about the same topic in 1940 and ’41.Desktop Version