Olympic National Park in Washington. About 100 miles from Seattle, Olympic is a place of beauty and variety. Untamed rivers flow from glacier-capped peaks through valleys of old-growth forests, waves crash against a shoreline rich with life, and only trails traverse the vast interior of this internationally recognized wilderness. Pictured here is sunrise from the park’s Second Beach. Photo by Glenn Nelson. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 6/1/15.
Hazel Mountain Overlook in the Shenandoah National Park. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 6/29/15.
Rainbows are a fan favorite in Yosemite National Park, commonly seen along the park’s flowing waterfalls on sunny days. Halos and coronas around the sun or moon are also a typical sight. Recently, a lucky visitor was able to spot and capture this rare occurrence –cloud iridescence – over Glacier Point. This optical phenomenon is caused when sunlight diffracts off tiny ice crystals or water droplets and creates a rainbow effect. Iridescent clouds typically occur in late afternoons in hot and humid weather. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 6/28/15.
Clouds fill the sky just after sunset in this beautiful picture by Glenn Nelson. Rocky Mountain National Park. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 6/28/15.