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Sea Otter Awareness Week
Sea Otter Awareness Week
Officially called Enhydra lutris, and unofficially known as the cutest creatures that float, these sea otters in Sitka Sound, Alaska, are doing what otters do, showing us that it truly does take a village, in this case a flotilla. Groups of either males or females (sometimes with pups), are appropriately named rafts. Male rafts tend to be larger and can number more than 1,000 individuals. Sea otters" buoyant bodies indeed work like literal rafts, standing in as cradles, dinner tables, or any kind of solid surface. That"s handy because otters spend the vast majority of their lives in the water, even giving birth in the sea. Although they seem to live carefree lives, frolicking and grooming and diving, they also serve an important role in keeping their aquatic ecosystems healthy, something to remember this week as we mark Sea Otter Awareness Week, observed every year during the last week of September.Desktop Version
Square Tower House in Mesa Verde National Park
Square Tower House in Mesa Verde National Park
We continue our celebration of National Park Week (through April 24)–and the UNESCO International Day for Monuments and Sites–with a visit to the impressive Square Tower House in Mesa Verde National Park. Square Tower House is one of many cliff dwellings constructed by the Ancestral Puebloans in what is now the American Southwest. At 27 feet, it"s the tallest structure in the park. Square Tower House is also notable for its kiva, a round, sunken room used for ceremonies. Unlike most of the ancient kivas found in the region, the kiva at Square Tower House has an intact original clay roof supported by wooden beams.Desktop Version
Wind Cave National Park celebrates 120 years
Wind Cave National Park celebrates 120 years
Between the more famous national parks of Yellowstone and the Badlands lies Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. Established 120 years ago, this national park is home to one of only four wild herds of genetically pure bison in North America. The two in our image are the descendants of 20 bison saved from slaughter by conservationists in the early 1900s. At the time, fewer than 1,000 wild bison were left alive out of a population that once numbered 50 million. Above ground, the park is the largest grass prairie in the country. Below ground lies one of the most extensive cave systems in the world. As the weather above changes, air flows into and out of the caves creating the wind for which the park was named.Desktop Version
National Lighthouse Day
National Lighthouse Day
It"s Lighthouse Day in the United States, so let"s stroll over to Spring Point Ledge Light on the breakwater next to Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, Maine. Lighthouse enthusiasts will recognize this as a caisson-style light station, meaning it"s a lighthouse built on top of a water-tight chamber called a caisson. In the US, caisson lighthouses were once known as "bug lights" because at a distance they appeared short and broad, a bit like a beetle on the surface of the water. After the invention of the internal combustion engine, the shape reminded many people of spark plugs, so they started calling them "spark plug lighthouses." Most caisson lighthouses are offshore or on dangerously exposed sites, but this is the only spark plug lighthouse in the country that visitors can walk to.Desktop Version
Yarn for Distaff Day
Yarn for Distaff Day
We"re showcasing gorgeous soft wool and mohair yarn because today is Distaff Day, a celebration that dates back to medieval times. Truth be told, we"re not convinced that it"s really cause for celebration, since it marked women"s return to spinning work after Christmas, following 12 blissful, chore-free days.Desktop Version
The Cathedral of Florence, Italy
The Cathedral of Florence, Italy
Considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence helped lead Europe out of the Middle Ages as a center of politics, finance, art, and culture. Seven-odd centuries later, it"s a snap to get aerial views of that era"s marvels, like the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (known more simply as the Cathedral of Florence). A crowning achievement in a city of crowning achievements, the complex includes a campanile, or bell tower, and a white-roofed baptistery in addition to the cathedral with its grand dome.Desktop Version
World Book Day
World Book Day
World Book Day takes us to the Tianjin Binhai New Area Library in Tianjin, China. Nicknamed "The Eye," this immense, stunning facility was completed in 2017 as the focal point of the Binhai Cultural Center. Designed by Dutch design firm MVRDV in collaboration with local architects, the library"s floor-to-ceiling bookshelves appear well stocked with books, but most of them are actually printed images. The real books are stored in traditional rooms with normal shelves. Still, it looks super cool.Desktop Version
Wildlife crossing, Wierden, Netherlands
Wildlife crossing, Wierden, Netherlands
It"s not just chickens that cross the road. Wild creatures from frogs to elk roll the dice with death when they need to traverse the thousands of highways humans have threaded through wildlife habitat. Sadly, the dice don"t fall favorably for millions of animals each year, and collisions with vehicles often cause fatalities for both them and the drivers who hit them.Desktop Version
Autumnal equinox
Autumnal equinox
Fall is in the air—officially. The September equinox marks the transition from summer to autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, while in the Southern Hemisphere, spring is just beginning. The term "equinox," derived from Latin, means "equal night." It marks one of two points during the year when the sun sits directly over the equator, and the Earth receives roughly equal amounts of daylight and darkness.Desktop Version
Tibetan New Year
Tibetan New Year
Welcome to the year 2152. That is, in the Tibetan calendar at least. Today marks the start of Losar, the new year festival celebrated in Tibetan Buddhism, which is observed in Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, and parts of India. Losar celebrations run for 15 days, beginning the night before with a meal of guthuk—a traditional dumpling soup. The new year is rung in with an incense burning ceremony and visits to holy places to pray for good fortune in the year ahead.Desktop Version
St. James Tidal Pool, Cape Town, South Africa
St. James Tidal Pool, Cape Town, South Africa
St. James Beach is a small, sheltered beach on Cape Town"s coastline, where vibrant Victorian bathing boxes sit side by side against an azure ocean backdrop. However, it"s the St. James Tidal Pool, pictured on our homepage, that steals the spotlight. This protected bathing area, built between rugged rocks, offers crystal-clear waters for a tranquil swimming experience. The pool is warm compared with the ocean, teems with small marine life, and is perfect for floating around without worrying about strong currents. For those who like to stay dry, the beach is perfect for leisurely strolls, soaking up the sun, and observing the rhythmic ebb and flow of the tides.Desktop Version
Flamenco dancers
Flamenco dancers
Today"s image captures a split second of the sweeping arm movements and rhythmic foot stamping that are characteristic of Spain"s most famous style of dance. Flamenco is packed with passion and drama, as performers transmit their deepest emotions—from sadness and regret to exuberance and joy—through body movements and facial expressions. But flamenco is more than just a dance: It"s an art form that mixes dancing with singing, guitar playing, clapping, and finger snapping.Desktop Version
Shark Awareness Day
Shark Awareness Day
Today, on Shark Awareness Day, let"s dive into the ocean"s depths to meet our finned friends. It"s believed that sharks have been cruising the oceans for at least 420 million years. Today’s homepage shows blacktip reef sharks, hunting in a group in the waters around the Maldives, one of more than 500 species of shark, each uniquely adapted to its habitat. From the graceful hammerhead with its panoramic vision to the fastest species, the sleek mako, shark species are diverse, but a third face extinction. Among threats are unregulated fishing and abandoned nets as well as demand for shark fins. They have a fearsome reputation but are the victims of myths and misconceptions that paint them as mindless killing machines. Today, let"s celebrate these magnificent creatures, a key part of healthy marine ecosystems, by advocating for their conservation.Desktop Version
World Environment Day
World Environment Day
The Swedish wilderness is a fitting place to visit on World Environment Day, for it was in Sweden that the United Nations launched the annual observance 50 years ago, in 1972. This is Rapadalen (Rapa Valley), a 22-mile-long valley in Sarek National Park in the pristine mountains of northern Sweden. Surrounded by steep mountains, the Rapa Valley is considered one of Europe"s most enchanting landscapes. The remote, high-alpine region is beautiful to be sure, but it"s only recommended for experienced and well-equipped hikers. The weather is severe and unpredictable, and there are no accommodations available for tourists.Desktop Version
Walruses in Svalbard, Norway
Walruses in Svalbard, Norway
What"s the perfect thing to do under the midnight sun? If you"re a walrus, the answer might be taking a quick dip with your crew, chowing down on clams and mussels, and then sunbathing on a beach or ice floe. Welcome to Svalbard, an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean halfway between Norway and the North Pole. Our homepage stars were photographed in the waters off Spitsbergen, the largest of the archipelago"s nine islands, where male and female herds are found year-round. Male walruses can reach almost 12 feet long and weigh more than 2,600 pounds. During mating season, they use this girth to fight among themselves for dominance over groups of females, called harems.Desktop Version
Amber Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Amber Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Grand palaces and towering forts shape the landscape of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Among the most prominent is Amber Fort, also known as Amer Fort or Amber Palace, which is perched on a small hill about 7 miles from the main city of Jaipur. Within its regal walls lies the Sattais Katcheri, which means "court of 27 pillars," featured in today"s image. Amber Fort was built in 1592 and it served as the residence of the maharajas, or rulers, of the area. Famous for its unique blend of Hindu, Rajput, and Mughal architectural styles, it is constructed from pale yellow and pink sandstone alongside white marble. This masterpiece is spread across four levels, each with its own courtyard. Part of the wider Hill Forts of Rajasthan UNESCO World Heritage Site, Amber Fort invites visitors to explore a rich blend of history and royalty.Desktop Version
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
This striking memorial to Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., displays 14 powerful quotes from his speeches and writings. The Inscription Wall, in Washington DC, lets the visitor browse the quotes without the structure of a timeline—the earliest quote dates to 1956 and the Montgomery Bus Boycott; the most recent is taken from Dr. King"s sermon at the National Cathedral in Washington just four days before he was assassinated.Desktop Version
Yosemite National Park turns 132
Yosemite National Park turns 132
There are thousands of waterfalls in Yosemite National Park, but perhaps none are as well known as Bridalveil Fall. First things first: Don"t call it "falls" because then someone may think you were in Utah where another waterfall bears the surprisingly similar name, Bridal Veil Falls. Bridalveil, as seen in the photo, is often the first waterfall visitors to Yosemite encounter. It plunges 617 feet and flows year-round, fed with water from Ostrander Lake nearly 10 miles away. When the flow is light, brisk winds blow the water sideways. That"s why the Ahwahneechee Native Americans, who have lived in the Yosemite Valley for centuries, traditionally called the waterfall Pohono, or "Spirit of the Puffing Wind."Desktop Version
International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
Earth is home to an estimated 476 million Indigenous people, a term meaning "sprung from the land" or native, which refers to the descendants of an area"s first-known inhabitants. They represent about 6% of the global population but speak more than half of the world"s estimated 7,000 languages. Our homepage today showcases the art of the Tiwi people of Australia, who speak a unique language unlinked to another other known language, in their community of only 2,000 people. Colonization has long impacted Indigenous people, contributing to high rates of poverty and loss of language and traditional lands. The UN first held the International Day of the World"s Indigenous Peoples in 1994, and every August 9 they bring attention to the fight to preserve the rights, dignity, and existence of the world"s oldest cultures.Desktop Version
International Tiger Day
International Tiger Day
Famously solitary, tigers seldom live in groups unless they"re still cubs staying close to their mother. This rare "streak," as a group of tigers is called, is an exception. So much so, they became the subjects of a TV documentary called "Girl Gang of Telia." Today, on International Tiger Day, we"re featuring these tigress sisters from the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in central India, a protected area that includes Tadoba National Park.Desktop Version
Christmas Bird Count
Christmas Bird Count
In the world of birdwatching, the Christmas Bird Count, first held back in 1900, is a highlight of the year. The original bird count involved just 27 people spread over 25 locations in the US and Canada. Since then, the annual bird census has grown exponentially, with participants in more than 2,360 locations across various countries.Desktop Version
Atolls in the Maldives
Atolls in the Maldives
With nearly 1,200 islands spread over a chain of 26 atolls, the Maldives are popular with tourists seeking serene beaches, scuba diving, and surf in the Indian Ocean. The atolls, like those pictured on our homepage, are made up of coral reefs that formed around the top of now-sunken volcanoes. Some are single, ring-shaped islands enclosing lagoons while other atolls are a series of small, connected islets, many of which are uninhabited.Desktop Version
Nha Phu Bay, Nha Trang, Vietnam
Nha Phu Bay, Nha Trang, Vietnam
Nha Phu Bay is a hidden treasure near the Vietnamese city of Nha Trang. Visitors from all over the world come here to snorkel, go island hopping, savor delicious seafood, and enjoy water sports. Hon Mun Island in Nha Trang Bay is the site of Vietnam"s only official marine reserve. Here you can explore coral reefs teeming with fish, including snakeheads and cyprinids. Among the bay"s popular attractions are Monkey Island which, as the name suggests, is home to gray-haired and red-faced monkeys, and Orchid Island, which boasts a great variety of orchid species.Desktop Version
National Park Service Founders Day
National Park Service Founders Day
While most of us play in our vast system of 63 national parks, others work there. Today, on National Park Service Founders Day, we recognize their efforts and the priceless gift of our country"s national parks. The NPS protects and maintains these parks as well as hundreds of national monuments and other natural, historical, and recreational properties. They include some of our most stunning natural landscapes, like North Cascades National Park in Washington state, featured here. This image, of the Triplets and Cascade Peak, is taken from atop Forbidden Peak.Desktop Version
Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo
Contrary to what many people believe, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico"s Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16. Instead, May 5 marks Mexico"s victory over better-equipped French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Although the French Empire would counterattack and take the city a year later, the unexpected victory was a morale boost which still has symbolic significance. While in the US, Cinco de Mayo is a popular festival celebrating Mexican American culture, celebrations in Mexico are relatively quiet and focused mostly on Puebla.Desktop Version