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A day to take a moment
A day to take a moment
"A field of water betrays the spirit that is in the air. It is continually receiving new life and motion from above. It is intermediate between land and sky." So Henry David Thoreau immortalized Walden Pond, but he could have been describing this calming image of Ežezers Lake in Latvia. Today, the birthday of that famous American advocate for pursuing a simple life is also National Simplicity Day, an annual reminder to unplug, slow down, step back, and consider your life. Thoreau"s most famous work (that you probably haven"t read since high school), "Walden," is his account of the two years, two months, and two days he spent away from society in a cabin near the shore of Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Through this work he encourages us to take a step back and look for ways to simplify our lives. "Our life is frittered away by detail," Thoreau observed. "Simplify, simplify."Desktop Version
A Festivus for the rest of us
A Festivus for the rest of us
We didn"t have a Festivus pole handy, so we"re bringing you near the South Pole, where two gentoo penguins seem to be sharing a loud "Airing of Grievances." December 23 marks Festivus, a tongue-in-cheek observance created by writer Daniel O"Keefe. At first an O"Keefe family inside joke, Festivus was rebranded as a rejection of Christmas-season commercialism and written into a 1997 episode of "Seinfeld" by Daniel"s son Dan. The show introduced such goofy new traditions as the "Airing of Grievances," "Feats of Strength," and identifying "Festivus miracles."Desktop Version
International Museum Day
International Museum Day
On International Museum Day, we"re looking at the Centre Pompidou Málaga in Spain, an offshoot of the modern art museum in Paris. This location was introduced in 2015 as a pop-up branch—a temporary, underground space for exhibitions and multi-disciplinary experiences as well as workshops dedicated to younger audiences. Originally scheduled for a five-year run, it was extended until 2025. The piece we see here, "El Cubo," created by French artist Daniel Buren, is the only part of the museum that"s visible above ground. The glass cube functions as a multicolored skylight, its panels projecting tinted light into the subterranean museum"s courtyard below.Desktop Version
Celebrating Bike to Work Week, May 14-18
Celebrating Bike to Work Week, May 14-18
If you need some inspiration for National Bike to Work Week, we present the racers of the Maratona dles Dolomites road race. The most dedicated of these competitors will pedal over seven mountain passes as they ride 85 miles through the Dolomite mountains of Italy. But hey, even if you’re simply biking a few miles in honor of Bike to Work Week, we commend you. The event is sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists, a group that touts the many benefits of cycling–good health, strong communities, and a healthy environment.Desktop Version
A history of Vinland
A history of Vinland
It’s Leif Erikson Day, a day to learn about, and marvel at, the story of this Viking explorer, born in Iceland and thought to have set foot on the North American continent a good 500 years before Christopher Columbus. Want proof? Head to Newfoundland, Canada, where today’s photo was taken. Archaeologists discovered the remnants of a Viking outpost on the island’s north coast in 1960. L’Anse aux Meadows, as it’s now known, is a historic site open to the public, and the only solid evidence that Vikings were the first Europeans to land in North America, which they called Vinland.Desktop Version
Remembering Krakatoa
Remembering Krakatoa
Over two days in late August 1883, Krakatoa—an uninhabited island near Indonesia—experienced one of the most destructive volcanic eruptions of modern times. Ten times more powerful than the eruption of Mount St. Helens, it obliterated all but a third of the island and triggered massive tsunamis. The biggest blast could be heard 3,000 miles away—it’s still the loudest sound ever recorded. More than 36,000 people lost their lives, and the explosions impacted the entire world for years: Global temperatures dropped and skies darkened, causing huge crop failures. Sunsets turned a vivid red and the moon often appeared blue or green after the event due to the volcanic debris circling in the atmosphere.Desktop Version
Bright and colorful peacock feathers
Bright and colorful peacock feathers
Peacock feathers, multicolored and radiant, are instantly recognizable. Their signature "eyespots" flash in the light when a male displays its tail plumage for a nearby female, known as a "peahen."Desktop Version
Dance of the egret
Dance of the egret
They say, "Dance like nobody"s watching," but here in Florida, this reddish egret could very likely have an audience of birders. The species has a reputation for bold, energetic feeding behavior that can resemble a frenetic dance. As it stalks its prey in shallow water, the reddish egret is prone to prance, stagger, and leap, while strategically positioning its wings to block the glare of the sun and boldly stab at fish. It"s one of many species that make Florida a year-round delight for birdwatchers.Desktop Version
Ancient storage in the Grand Canyon
Ancient storage in the Grand Canyon
Around 1100 CE—a good 400 years before Spanish conquistadors would first glimpse the Grand Canyon—Ancestral Puebloans tended terrace farms along the banks of the Colorado River. In order to store their crops during the rainy season, when floods might destroy food stores, and to keep animals from eating the harvest, they created the Nankoweap Granaries high up in the canyon walls.Desktop Version
It s ∞ Day!
It s ∞ Day!
Gustave Flaubert wrote that "an infinity of passion can be contained in one minute." So, if you have boundless passion for contemplating the immeasurable, a full day should offer plenty of time. August 8 (8/8) is Infinity Day since the numeral 8 looks like a tilted ∞, the common symbol for infinity first popularized in 17th-century math books. But the concept of infinity itself represents an idea much older, inherent in the countless spiritual traditions that revere eternal gods or outline endless life cycles.Desktop Version
Bird s-eye view on World Environment Day
Bird s-eye view on World Environment Day
For World Environment Day today we"re in northeastern Costa Rica, a nature lover"s paradise. The UN established World Environment Day in 1974 to encourage awareness and action for the protection of the environment. It begins with research, which is exactly what happens in this pristine corner of the planet. The misty canopy of forest pictured here is part of La Selva Biological Station, an internationally renowned center for tropical forest research that"s associated with universities and research institutions in the United States, Costa Rica, and Puerto Rico.Desktop Version
Vote!
Vote!
It"s Election Day, so if you"re eligible to vote but haven"t already voted, stop reading this and go cast your ballot. In 1845, Congress decided that general elections of federal public officials would be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Why a Tuesday? In the 1800s, most citizens worked as farmers and lived far from their polling places, so they needed a day or two to travel. Many Americans went to church on Sunday, and Wednesday was their day at the market. So, Tuesday was the most practical.Desktop Version
National Hug Day
National Hug Day
Even the toughest predator on the South African savannah can get snuggly, especially on Hugging Day. Founded 35 years ago, this celebration of the embrace is meant to lift spirits during the post-holiday lull, encouraging family and friends to hug each other more often, not only today but every day. So, what are you waiting for? Go hug people!Desktop Version
A toast to California!
A toast to California!
Today we"re celebrating the 169th anniversary of the Golden State"s admission into the Union with an appropriately golden image of a Central Coast winery and landscape. In 1850, just 14 months after the peace treaty ending the Mexican-American War ceded most of California along with a large portion of western territory to the US, the former self-proclaimed California Republic became the 31st state. California is one of only six states admitted to the Union without first being recognized as a US territory. Some link this to the California Gold Rush, which began in January 1848 and rapidly increased the California population by more than 1,000 percent.Desktop Version
Taiwan yuhinas in Alishan National Scenic Area
Taiwan yuhinas in Alishan National Scenic Area
The Taiwan yuhina is a chirpy little bird with an eye-catching crest. Found only on the island of Taiwan, they constantly chatter while feeding and sometimes hang upside-down on cherry trees like bats. Birdwatchers can glimpse the small songbirds at Taiwan’s Alishan National Scenic Area, which features postcard-worthy forest trails and picturesque sunrises.Desktop Version
Lake Tai s cherry trees in bloom
Lake Tai s cherry trees in bloom
The tranquil appearance of Lake Tai belies its location within Wuxi, China, a metropolis of 7.5 million people in southern Jiangsu province. A short distance to the east is the megacity of Shanghai. But city life feels a world away here at China"s third-largest freshwater lake. More than 20 miles across in places, Lake Tai provides a needed retreat from urban life, drawing locals and tourists to its picturesque shores.Desktop Version
Autumn in the cypress swamp
Autumn in the cypress swamp
Autumn still brings a splash of color to this hardwood forest of bald cypress in Louisiana. But make no mistake, a stroll through these wetlands is not a cozy New England leaf-peeping journey. The swamp forest floor is often covered by the waters of the Atchafalaya River delta as it drains into the Gulf of Mexico, so the autumn colors here are best viewed from the seat of a canoe or a pirogue, as the local Cajuns use. The water-resistant bald cypress trees thriving in the Atchafalaya Basin constitute the largest tract of contiguous cypress forest in the United States. The ecosystem here is so unlike any other in the US, the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area organization calls it "America"s foreign country."Desktop Version
Freeze frame
Freeze frame
A lot of work goes into taking great photos, as this emperor penguin can attest. The best photographers find the right location, have mastery over their equipment, and ensure they"re ready when the magic happens. Of course, it helps to recognize a chance at an unusual shot, like when curious emperor penguins in Antarctica invite themselves to your shoot.Desktop Version
Water colors
Water colors
Xiechi Lake in Yuncheng, China, has such a high level of salinity, it"s sometimes called China"s Dead Sea. But unlike the Dead Sea in the Middle East, Xiechi Lake supports abundant microscopic life: algae and other microorganisms that have a high tolerance for the salt. In summer and autumn, the lake temperature is high enough to spark algae blooms, bringing a variety of intense colors to the lake water.Desktop Version
From garden to table?
From garden to table?
Depending on where you live, you may know these snails as Burgundy, Roman, or edible snails. Yes, that last name acknowledges that these garden dwellers are often prepared as a food item, usually called ‘escargot’—the French word for ‘snail.’ In late spring and early summer, the adult snails will lay eggs and cover them up, leaving the young to hatch and survive on their own. Given that the adult snail in our photo is 1.5 inches tall, it puts the juvenile snail’s size into perspective.Desktop Version
Kawachi Fuji Garden
Kawachi Fuji Garden
Today we"re taking a trip to a Japanese purple paradise. This photo captures just one of over 22 different varieties of wisteria planted at the Kawachi Fuji Garden in Kitakyushu, Japan. Hundreds of wisteria plants were meticulously cultivated to form tunnels that bloom with shades of blue, white, purple, and pink. The walkable tunnels open into large domes of wisteria vines for visitors to sit under and bask in the fragrant flowers. An overlook gives visitors an impressive view of not only the flowers but also the surrounding valley and its bamboo groves.Desktop Version
Art over Amalfi
Art over Amalfi
For centuries, Amalfi was the capital of a busy maritime republic in the Mediterranean basin. Over time, its importance as a port diminished and Amalfi became a popular Italian tourist destination. But the city’s history from at least the 7th century to the present got the attention of the United Nations, which gave the Amalfi Coast UNESCO Heritage Site status in 1997. So, if you’re observing United Nations Day today, we’re celebrating with you. This art installation depicting a flock of doves was suspended over the Piazza del Duomo, just outside Saint Andrew’s Cathedral in Amalfi.Desktop Version
Celebrating the Day of the Dead
Celebrating the Day of the Dead
Whether made of wood, clay, or even candy, Day of the Dead skeleton figures, called calacas, share one common trait: They’re having fun. The reason for the whimsical portrayal of death is a holdover from the Aztec influence on Mexican culture. According to traditional beliefs, the dead don’t want to be remembered with sadness, but rather with the joy they brought to the world when they were alive. Today is the height of the three-day celebration, which begins with All Saints Eve on October 31, continues with All Saints Day (today), and ends with All Souls Day on November 2.Desktop Version
3,000 years of history
3,000 years of history
These massive temples—known today as Abu Simbel—were built in the 13th century BCE by the pharaoh Ramesses II. He left a legacy of monuments and temples across Egypt, many of which, like Abu Simbel, featured Ramesses II himself as the star attraction. But over the centuries, these temples were almost completely buried in sand and forgotten. It was not until the early 1800s when an explorer saw the heads of the colossal statues poking through the sand that the temples were again discovered. Then in the 20th century, construction of a dam on the Nile River formed Lake Nasser, a massive reservoir that would have flooded the site where the temples stood. To save them from inundation, the temples were disassembled and relocated to a nearby hill. The process took almost five years and required that workers cut the temples into pieces and reassemble them exactly as they were built 3,000 years ago. We think Ramesses II would approve.Desktop Version
A Portuguese fort takes a star turn
A Portuguese fort takes a star turn
Perched on a strategic hillside, high above the hot, dry plains of eastern Portugal, the Nossa Senhora da Graça Fort has been called a masterpiece of 18th-century military architecture. The thick walls that surround the fortress are shaped in a star pattern, with pentagonal bastions jutting out from the curtain wall at the corners. We"re looking at one of those bastions coming to a point in the lower center of our image.Desktop Version