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Apr 13, 2021Ruins of a royal temple

In present-day Thailand sit the ruins of the ancient kingdom that preceded it, Ayutthaya. Wat Phra Si Sanphet, shown here, was the holiest shrine in the capital of that kingdom, a royal temple containing a 52-foot-tall golden statue of the Buddha, among other treasures. The first king of Ayutthaya, Ramathibodi I, ordered construction of a royal palace here in 1350. Nearly a century later, the palace was moved to a different location in the city and the former palace grounds were converted to a holy site.Desktop Version

Jun 9, 2021Ring of fire

No, this isn"t some kind of early promo for "Halo Infinite." Today"s homepage image shows an annular solar eclipse captured in New Mexico in 2012. ("Annular" is just a fancy word for doughnut-shaped.) It"s not unlike the eclipse some northerly parts of the world will enjoy tomorrow.Desktop Version

Aug 15, 2018Best. Holiday. Ever.

On this most wonderful day—National Relaxation Day—we journey to a rocky, kelp-covered shore in the Shetland Islands of Scotland, where a snoozing Eurasian otter gives an inspiring demonstration of how to properly observe this holiday. Relaxation Day seems to have originated from National Slacker Day, which Britons are celebrating today. There, celebrants are encouraged to ignore the phone and other devices, and simply take it easy. The idea caught on here in the US and, really, who are we to say ‘no’ to a chance to kick back, maybe catch a nap, and just take it easy for one day. Join us, won’t you?Desktop Version

Jun 30, 2018The aftermath of a meteorite

Today’s a special day for astronomy enthusiasts: It’s both Asteroid Day and Meteor Watch Day. To celebrate, we’re at the rim of a 560-foot-deep crater with a 3,900-foot diameter, creatively called "Meteor Crater." (Scientists call it Barringer Crater, for the name of the man who first theorized it was a meteorite-impact crater.) Some 50,000 years ago, parts of an asteroid fell to Earth here, in a location just east of Flagstaff, Arizona. And today, we can see just how devastating the collision must have been to leave a basin so large.Desktop Version

Mar 25, 2022Tolkien Reading Day

For Tolkien Reading Day, we"re visiting the Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Swiss Alps, which is believed to have inspired the Elven sanctuary of Rivendell in J.R.R. Tolkien"s novels "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit." Like Tolkien"s mythical Elf settlement, Lauterbrunnen Valley has a bit of storybook appeal, with an unusually narrow valley floor hemmed in by steep Alpine cliffs and dotted with numerous waterfalls. Lauterbrunnen became popular among mountain climbers and hikers beginning in the late 19th century, and Tolkien hiked through the valley in 1911. The valley remains a popular tourist destination.Desktop Version

Dec 22, 2020A holiday beacon of light

This classic New England scene is Cape Neddick Light, one of the most iconic of Maine"s 65 lighthouses, all lit up for the holiday season. Built on more than 2 acres of granite island, the Nub has been protecting sailors since 1879. It"s a tradition for locals to visit when it"s dressed up for the holidays. And if you miss the winter display, you can come back in July, when the lighthouse is relit for summer visitors.Desktop Version

Mar 5, 2018Seattle Central Library, Seattle, Washington

In 2004 Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas infused an old-school institution with a high-tech vibe when he designed the Seattle Central Library. An instant architectural landmark for downtown Seattle, the library has been embraced by what’s been frequently ranked as one of the ‘most literate’ cities in the United States. Beyond its striking appearance, the facility has many unique features, including a four-story Books Spiral, which allows users to browse the nonfiction collection in one continuous walk, uninterrupted by stairs, elevators, or different rooms.Desktop Version

Feb 3, 2021The mountaintop of toppled gods

The ruins on Mount Nemrut depict a gaggle of gods from both Greek and Persian traditions, plus a few deities that King Antiochus I made up himself. The range of spiritual faiths represented in the statues found near the 7,000-foot summit reflects southeastern Turkey"s long history as a crossroads of cultures. Today, the derelict statues are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Desktop Version

Oct 24, 2021Bavljenac Island

Of the 1,246 islands on Croatia"s fragmented coast, the unique isle of Bavljenac might be the most identifiable. It"s nicknamed "Fingerprint Island" for its miles of dry-stone walls that look like the whorled ridges of a human fingerprint. The tiny, uninhabited landmass in the Adriatic Sea was once an agricultural center. In the 19th century—the heyday of Croatian wine production— farmers from the nearest populated island built the winding walls on Bavljenac to protect olive trees and grapevines from the winds blowing in from the Adriatic.Desktop Version

Dec 16, 2019Cape Town at dusk

It"s a beautiful evening here in Cape Town, South Africa. From this vantage point we have a striking view of Table Mountain, with its "tablecloth," or cloud cover that typically shrouds the local landmark. Cape Town is a popular tourist destination noted for its beaches, natural beauty, architecture, and multicultural diversity—and in that diversity, it"s a showcase for the South Africa that Archbishop Desmond Tutu calls the "rainbow nation."Desktop Version

Oct 31, 2018Shhh, the movie is about to start

Halloween is the perfect time to ponder the paranormal. For example, you might ask yourself, do ghosts exist? If so, how exactly do they spend their Halloween? Perhaps there’s a haunted theater out there in another dimension (cue the theme to ‘The Twilight Zone’). Maybe while we’re home watching scary movies about ghosts, these spirits are watching movies about us, the real undead. Spooky! We hope you consider our homepage to be a treat—not a trick—as it’s all in good fun. Happy Halloween!Desktop Version

Jan 15, 2021It s truffle season here in the Dordogne Valley

Perched high above the Dordogne River in France, the Château de Beynac is one of the best-preserved castles of the Périgord Noir region. This 12th-century fortress has been meticulously restored, showcasing for tourists such delights as a dungeon, 13th-century toilets, and magnificent views of the "Valley of the Five Castles" below.Desktop Version

May 22, 2018Happy 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

Mar 24, 2018Crimson-rumped toucanet in the Refugio Paz de Las Aves, Ecuador

A small patch of red quills in its tail feathers earned this smaller cousin of the toucan its common name. That ‘crimson rump’ provides striking contrast to the deep green, gold, and blue feathers on the rest of the toucanet’s body. Our specimen was photographed in the Refugio Paz de Las Aves (Peace of the Birds Sanctuary), a private nature reserve nestled in the foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes near the equator. Visitors there can spot many neotropical bird species, including antpittas, hummingbirds, and tanagers.Desktop Version

Jun 5, 2018Up, up, and away for Hot Air Balloon Day

Really, there’s only one way to celebrate Hot Air Balloon Day properly. But if you can’t catch a ride in a basket under a giant balloon today, know that the idea dates back at least to 3rd-century China, where paper lanterns were used as military signals. Fast forward to 18th-century France, where two paper-making brothers, the Montgolfiers, launched unmanned hot air balloons. Then, to great fanfare, they tried sending up a sheep, duck, and chicken, and finally, Étienne Montgolfier took a ride. Designs have improved since then, resulting in the standard hot air balloon seen here.Desktop Version

Nov 20, 2018Flamingos of the Chilean desert

Chilean flamingos fly past the Paine Massif, an eastern outcropping of the Andes Mountains in Torres Del Paine National Park. Below the towering peaks is the western edge of the Patagonian Desert in Chile. Despite the ‘desert’ designation, the Chilean portion is a large drainage basin for numerous glacier-fed lakes and rivers. These shallow waters are an ideal habitat for Chilean flamingos—they dip their comb-like bills into the water to filter out tasty plankton and algae.Desktop Version

Mar 11, 2018Daylight 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

Oct 2, 2020A 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

Dec 6, 2018The 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

Feb 20, 2020Après-ski in the Dolomites

Today"s homepage image features Rifugio Lagazuoi, a ski lodge located at about 9,000 feet above sea level on Italy"s Mount Lagazuoi. With an elevation higher than most ski lodges in this area of the Dolomites, it gives visitors opportunities for breathtaking views like this one. The ruggedly beautiful mountain landscapes, pristine natural environments, and distinctive geologic formations all contributed to the Dolomites being recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009. While the area is accessible all year long, it"s worth visiting during the ski season to check out the Great War Ski Tour, an open-air museum where you can see World War I trenches and tunnels created by Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops as they fought each other in this precipitous and stunning terrain.Desktop Version

Sep 19, 2020Arrr, 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

Aug 12, 2018Join 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

Jan 26, 2021It 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

Apr 19, 2018Craig 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

Jun 11, 2018A 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

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