Quillayute Needles National Wildlife Refuge in Washington is one of the earliest refuges. The refuge was set aside by Teddy Roosevelt in 1907 to protect habitat for struggling seabird populations. Quillayute Needles Refuge consists of 870 islands, rocks and reefs extending for more than 100 miles along Washington’s coast from Cape Flattery to Copalis Beach. Today the islands swell with raucous flocks of migrating seabirds in excess of a million during fall and spring migrations. In summer the vast majority of Washington’s breeding seabirds jostle for space on these remote rocks. Sunset photo by Melissa Hahn. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 5/13/15.
Stretching from the Rio Grande to the Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park in Texas includes massive canyons, vast desert expanses, forested mountains and an ever-changing river. Explore one of the last remaining wild corners of the United States where scenic vistas, historic sites and border culture can be found. Sunset photo by Carol Hutchison. Posted on Tumblr 4/10/15 by the US Department of the Interior.
Long-range vistas, rolling mountains and pastoral landscapes, Blue Ridge Parkway is America’s favorite drive, and we can definitely see why. Blue Ridge meanders for 469 miles, connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and providing opportunities for enjoying all that makes this region so special. Sunset from the Parkway by Chris Mobley. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 5/3/15.
Sunset over Washington’s Cascades National Park. Photo by Andy Porter. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 5/9/15.