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Apr 25, 2022World Penguin Day

For World Penguin Day, we"re dropping in on these three kings, who are conferring on matters of state, no doubt. By their grand name, you might expect the king penguin to be the largest of penguin species. In fact, the emperor penguin outranks the king in stature, although they do look similar. The king stands out because of its striking yellow-orange chest feathers and the matching flash of color on the side of its head. Kings can be found in Antarctica and on the subantarctic islands, but their only visits to shore are during the breeding season and when it"s time to molt. The 3-foot-tall kings have one of the longest breeding seasons for birds: It lasts from 14 to 15 months, and they only raise one chick every other year, as it takes nine months for the baby to be fully fledged.Desktop Version

Aug 13, 2019An ice cap-puccino

No, that"s not a new frozen coffee drink from Starbucks; it"s the southern polar ice cap on Mars. Mars is the only other planet in the solar system with visible ice caps, though they differ from Earth’s because the ice caps on Mars consist of both water ice and frozen carbon dioxide. The ice cap looks smooth here, but its surface is pockmarked with swiss-cheese-like depressions caused by the seasonal freezing and melting of the Martian winters and summers. While Mars has been observed by humanity for thousands of years, it was only on August 13, 1672, that Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens observed the ice cap using the most powerful telescope of the day. The giant of science designed the 50x magnification telescope himself, and with his brother, produced the lenses as well.Desktop Version

Jul 15, 2023Castelmezzano, Italy

Embraced by the rugged peaks of the Lucanian Dolomites, the ancient village of Castelmezzano in southern Italy glows with charm. Its narrow alleys and cobblestone streets pass buildings that cling to the mountainside. This picturesque destination is brimming with history; from its rule by feudal lords to battles long forgotten. It"s believed that the Normans settled here around the 11th century AD and constructed a castle, from which the village gets its name. Castelmezzano isn"t just a sleepy portrait of the past, it also offers adventure activities for the brave, including a high-altitude zip line between mountains on the Volo dell"Angelo (Flight of the Angel). Yet the finest pleasure the small village offers might just be grabbing a cup of coffee and watching the sun rise behind the majestic mountain peaks, illuminating those huddled houses as the streetlamps go out.Desktop Version

Aug 28, 2023Dubrovnik, Croatia

Though you might instinctively watch out for invading fleets or dragons overhead, you"re more likely to encounter a tourist than a Lannister in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik. As you may know, "Game of Thrones" filmed here frequently throughout the run of the show, and you can scarcely blame them; Dubrovnik"s Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the world. For centuries it flourished as the Republic of Ragusa, maintaining independence through diplomacy and robust trade networks. This "Pearl of the Adriatic" has withstood military bombardments and devastating earthquakes, yet the city has always rebuilt and persevered. While pop culture, history, and UNESCO World Heritage Site status are all big draws, they might be too effective: A recent report estimated that in 2019 there were 36 tourists for every resident.Desktop Version

Apr 7, 2023International Beaver Day

Behold the mighty beaver, nature"s engineer. They fell trees with their massive orange incisors, using the wood to build two main structures, the dam, which creates a pond in which they can build their living quarters—the lodge. A beaver uses a lodge to hide from predators, store food, rest, and protect their offspring.Desktop Version

Aug 15, 2022Indian Independence Day

At 8 miles in circumference, the Chittorgarh Fort is one of the largest forts in India, a nation with scores of ancient and medieval fortresses. For starters there are seven massive gates from which to enter. Inside you"ll find four palaces and 19 temples. At one time there were almost 100 bodies of water, most of them ponds fed by natural catchment and rainfall, although now there are only 20. Chittorgarh ("garh" means "fort," so it"s also known as Chittor Fort) is so old, no one is sure exactly when it was built, although reports of its earliest capture go back to the 8th century. It is one of six large forts in the northwestern state of Rajasthan referred to as the Hill Forts of Rajasthan, all of them collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We"re featuring this important and ancient complex on India"s 75th Independence Day, one of India"s three national holidays.Desktop Version

Jan 10, 2023Lake Peipus, Estonia

Lake Peipus, the fifth-largest lake in Europe, dates back hundreds of millions of years to the Paleozoic Era and is known for its sand dunes, which can "sing" when the wind blows just right. In the winter the frozen lake surface may feature ice hummocks, as seen in this image. The hummocks are caused by slow, uneven pressure in the ice pack.Desktop Version

Sep 11, 2019A tower of remembrance

Pictured here is the Tower of Voices, a 93-foot-tall monument to the passengers and crew on Flight 93. Hijackers seized the plane shortly after it left Newark, New Jersey, on September 11, 2001. As travelers onboard learned of the coordinated attacks in New York and Washington, DC, a group of passengers and flight crew attempted to wrest control of the plane. The aircraft crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing everyone on board. It was the only one of the four hijacked planes that didn’t hit its intended target.Desktop Version

Sep 21, 2021An old celebration for a new season

This photo takes us to Hong Kong"s Victoria Park, where a group of engineers constructed a giant lantern sculpture called "Rising Moon." It"s made of more than 7,000 recycled plastic water bottles with LED lights inside, to honor one of China"s most important holidays, the Mid-Autumn Festival. While it"s only been an "official" public holiday in China since 2008, mention of the Mid-Autumn Festival first appeared in written historical texts as far back as 3,000 years ago. Families celebrate the holiday by lighting paper lanterns and sharing a meal, traditionally at a round table. This reunion is said to bring good luck and happiness.Desktop Version

Jun 17, 2022Grand Teton National Park

These arrowleaf balsamroot wildflowers, commonly known as Oregon sunflowers, have a grand view of the Grand Tetons from the valley below the towering range. The region"s harsh weather means that only the hardiest of wildflowers can survive, and the bright yellow arrowleaves fit the bill. The plants are drought-tolerant, impervious to winter, tenacious against trampling, and even fire-resistant, with a taproot that regenerates leaves and flowers after the top has burned.Desktop Version

Mar 12, 2022The Girl Scouts celebrate 110 years

Today we"re celebrating 110 years of the Girl Scouts! Sure, we enjoy their cookies every year, but with so much history behind the organization, the Girl Scouts deserve merit badges for more than just the Thin Mint. On March 12, 1912, founder Juliette Gordon Low brought an outfit called the Girl Guides stateside from England after befriending the founder of the scouting movement there. The first American troop had 18 girls participating. Low designed activities to allow girls to serve their communities, experience the outdoors, and develop self-reliance and resourcefulness. Those skills would be useful on the camping expedition seen in today"s photo. These girls can be seen along the shore of Todd Lake at the Deschutes National Forest in Oregon in 1960.Desktop Version

Jun 11, 2022Misool Island, Indonesia

You may think finding a tropical paradise that"s still largely untouched by people is merely a pipe dream. You may be wrong. Raja Ampat, an archipelago in the province of West Papua, Indonesia, has a mere 64,000 inhabitants, and they all live on or around its four main islands—Batanta, Misool, Salawati, and Waigeo. (In fact, the name Raja Ampat means "Four Kings" and derives from an ancient legend that says four young kings were hatched from dragon eggs, one ruler for each of those main islands.) The rest of Raja Ampat is made up of about 1,500 smaller islands and cays—and astonishingly, hundreds of these tiny islands have yet to be explored by humans.Desktop Version

May 4, 2023Star Wars Day

May the Fourth be with you! The "Star Wars" universe has captured the imagination of fans for decades and its impact, like the "Force," is all around us. The original 1977 film introduced us to a galaxy far, far away, a cast of unforgettable characters, and a gripping battle between good and evil. Its reach has since extended to television, books, comics, theme parks, thousands of products, and a day of its own to celebrate the much-loved sci-fi franchise.Desktop Version

Jul 23, 2023Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Legend has it that tea was first brewed accidentally around 2737 BC in China thanks to a strong wind and some loose leaves. If you find that hard to swallow, there are other origin stories to choose from. However, one thing is certain—the feeling it stirs in tea drinkers worldwide. From gongfu tea practice in China to darye in Korea, there are plenty of fascinating tea cultures to savor. Tea tourism has gained popularity, with visitors to tea plantations and estates learning all about their history. Our homepage image shows one such place, Nuwara Eliya"s Edinburgh Estate in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya"s colonial-era buildings and mist-shrouded tea gardens have earned it the name "Little England." The area is known for producing some of the world"s finest orange pekoe tea. So, for your next trip, are you willing to "chai" something new?Desktop Version

Nov 9, 2019We heart Berlin

We"re gazing at the Brandenburg Gate—a symbol of peace and unity—through a heart-shaped replica of a remnant of the Berlin Wall, probably the most potent symbol of the political division that once scarred the German capital. Today marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the concrete barrier that once obstructed this view.Desktop Version

Aug 3, 2023Zelenci Nature Reserve, Slovenia

Experience nature"s palette at its colorful best at Zelenci Springs, where Italy, Austria, and Slovenia meet, and multiple springs combine to form this aquamarine lake. Here in Slovenia’s Triglav National Park, these crystal-clear waters are the source of the Sava Dolinka, which runs into the country’s longest river, the Sava. Peer closely at the lakebed and you will see tiny springs bubbling up beneath the water"s surface. These spring waters never freeze as underground water temperatures stay around 41 degrees Fahrenheit, enough to keep flowing through harsh winters in this alpine region.Desktop Version

Apr 20, 2022Mute swans

These proverbial "ugly ducklings" are anything but. Soon, they will indeed grow up to become graceful swans. The young mute swans, called cygnets, are sheltered under mom"s tail feathers in the Massapequa Preserve on Long Island, New York, a tranquil oasis in the suburban sprawl of Nassau County.Desktop Version

Jan 26, 2023Heavens Gate Cave, Tianmen Mountain National Park, China

The rock arch formation you"re looking at today is Heaven"s Gate Cave, a popular landmark in Hunan province, China. This busy tourist destination is located on Tianmen (Heaven"s Gate) Mountain in Tianmen Mountain National Park. To reach the arch, you must either ride a cable car or take a bus up a twisty, winding road with 99 turns. (The number 9 represents eternity in Chinese numerology.) Once off the bus, you"ll need to walk 999 steps up a 45-degree incline—a stairway to the heavens. It"s no easy feat, but this is no ordinary cave. At an elevation of 4,100 feet, the arch is 440 feet high and 180 feet wide.Desktop Version

Feb 13, 2022American bison

Although American bison live and defend themselves as a herd, these two don"t appear to see eye to eye. With their massive heads, they"re natural stand-ins for the helmeted human titans facing off in the stadium today for Super Bowl Sunday.Desktop Version

Sep 22, 2019Barcelona bids farewell to summer

Every year, for four days in September, locals and tourists flock to one of Barcelona’s biggest events, La Mercè Festival. It got its beginnings in 1687 when Barcelona was suffering from a plague of locusts. In desperation, city officials voted to ask for the assistance of La Mare de Déu de la Mercè (the Virgin of Mercy). Eventually, having been delivered from the pestilence, the officials named the Virgin of Mercy the patroness of Barcelona, and an annual festival has been celebrated in her honor in the city ever since.Desktop Version

Oct 22, 2019Bobbing for crab apples

If it"s autumn, it"s apple season—the time for apple pie, apple cider (and, of course, apple cider doughnuts), apple cake, caramel apples, or just biting into a fresh, crisp apple, especially one you picked yourself. There are more than 7,500 varieties of apples grown in the world—about 2,500 in the US. This blackbird is enjoying a crab apple, which most people find a little sour to eat right off the tree. They do, however, work well for jelly, apple butter, or even pie filling. The term "crab apple" doesn’t refer to a specific species but is used for several types of small apples. In Celtic culture, crab apples are associated with love and marriage. Supposedly if you throw the seeds into a fire while saying the name of your love, the seeds explode if your love is true. We"d try it but we"re busy baking a pie.Desktop Version

Jan 11, 2023Umschreibung by Olafur Eliasson in Munich

Making a New Year"s resolution to boost your fitness? Let us present National Take the Stairs Day. (You"re welcome.) The annual event began informally in 2016 and was later adopted by the American Lung Association. It"s an ingenious way to nudge people to exercise—most of us encounter stairs during our day, so there"s really no excuse. Climbing stairs is a low-impact activity that raises your heart rate and burns calories.Desktop Version

Jan 13, 2024Road to Hana, Maui, Hawaii

With more than 600 curves and numerous one-lane bridges, it"s best not to relax too much while navigating Hawaii"s famous Road to Hana. It"s hard to stay focused though, as the road winds its way through lush surroundings over 64 miles along the northern coast of Maui, from Kahului to Hana. Make a few stops along the way to get the best views of the rainforests and waterfalls that line the route. Popular attractions include the Waikamoi Ridge Trail, the easily accessible Twin Falls, and the black sands of Wai"ānapanapa State Park.Desktop Version

Apr 13, 2022Mitsumata blossoms

Stress seems to melt away when you gaze at this serene forest protecting the mitsumata blossoms below. While the flowering buds are beautiful in their natural state, the mitsumata shrub (Edgeworthia chrysantha) has so much more to offer. Originally brought from China to Japan by monks, the green plant is now a staple of Japanese papermaking and one of three principal ingredients in washi, traditional Japanese paper. No wonder, then, that it"s also known as the Oriental paperbush. Mitsumata washi is dense and holds ink well—it"s a favorite of artists and calligraphers—and sheets of mitsumata paper are also used in traditional shoji screens.Desktop Version

Mar 9, 2023Waimea Canyon and Waipoo Falls, Kauai, Hawaii

The water pictured crashing down the side of Waimea Canyon, on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, has come from one of the rainiest places on Earth. Waipo"o Falls is fed by water from Mount Wai"ale"ale, a shield volcano whose name means "overflowing water." The mountain is often shrouded in clouds and experiences a huge amount of rainfall each year—which helps explains those spectacular rainbows.Desktop Version

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