Archive for March 2016
In southern New Mexico, Dripping Springs Natural Area not only has stunning natural beauty, it also tells the story of the western frontier. Homesteaders settled here along stagecoach routes, later the springs supported a resort during the time of Billy the Kid and it served as a sanatorium before it was eventually abandoned. Now the area is managed by @mypubliclands and is known for hiking through desert scrub, lovely low elevation woodlands and excellent wildlife viewing. Photo by Ria Cabral. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 3/10/16.
Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park, as seen from Farview Point. Photo by Phillip Abrams. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 3/27/16.
Arizona’s Petried Forest National Park. Photo by Michael Reed. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 3/30/16.
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Along the Atlantic coast of Florida, a little island lays in Indian River Lagoon. It may look small, but it has a very large international footprint. The 5400+ acres of land and water at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge represent the world’s first wildlife refuge. Established on March 14, 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt, the site protects birds that were nearly hunted to extinction – like the Brown Pelican. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 3/14/16.
More than 800 rocks, reefs and small islands off the Washington coast make up Quillayute Needles National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge was set aside by Teddy Roosevelt in 1907 to protect habitat for struggling seabird populations. Today the islands swell with raucous flocks of migrating seabirds in excess of a million during fall and spring migrations. With a 200-yard buffer zone around each island to protect the wildlife, this refuge is best enjoyed from the beach with spectacular views like this one. Photo by Melissa Hahn. From the Department of the Interior’s blog.
At only 315,000 acres (492 square miles), Izembek National Wildlife Refuge is the smallest refuge in Alaska. But as this little fox can show, you don’t have to be large to be special. Famous for its numerous and diverse inhabitants, wildlife at Izembek includes foxes, wolverines, caribou, moose, brown bears, shorebirds, seabirds and an incredible array of waterfowl. The waters offshore are home to salmon, sea lions, seals, otters, walruses, and whales. Getting here isn’t easy, but the reward is great. Photo by Kristine Sowl, USFWS. Photo from the US Department of the Interior’s blog.
Named for the world-renowned environmentalist, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Maine is a great place to find peace and connect with nature on a quiet stroll, catching glimpses of bird and bunnies in the woods and on the beach. Open in all seasons, the refuge is always welcoming. Photo from the US Department of the Interior’s blog.
On the far northern end of the Hawaiian archipelago lies Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge — a place of astonishing beauty. This small refuge is one of the oldest atoll formations in the world that provides nesting habitat for millions of seabirds, while protecting remnants from one of the most decisive battles of World War II. The clear, turquoise waters of Midway Atoll are teeming with a vibrant and diverse collection of life, including sharks, green sea turtles, spinner dolphins and endangered Hawaiian monk seals. Photo by Wyland. From the US Department of the Interior’s blog.
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Seriously WOW! Mesmerizing pic of the Milky Way over Mount Rainier National Park. Photo by Kevin Shearer. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 2/28/16.
Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park, nearly obscured by fog. Photo by Scott Kranz. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 3/28/16.
Sunrise hikes have a special reward in Rocky Mountains National Park. Photo by Mike Kvackay. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 3/10/16.
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In every season, at every hour, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is a stunning and surprising landscape. Remote enough for dark skies to allow the Milky Way to shine and featuring steam rising from hot springs tinted with colorful bacteria and reflecting the aurora borealis, a night in the park offers enough wonders for a lifetime. Photo courtesy of Bryony Richards. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 3/27/16.
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Photo of Jefferson Memorial courtesy of Drew Geraci. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 7/16/15.
Korean War Monument on the Capitol Mall. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 11/11/15.
Statue of Liberty. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 10/28/15.
Abraham Lincoln, seated in the Lincoln Memorial & overlooking the Capital Mall. Photo by Lisa Locke. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 2/12/16.
The cherry trees in full bloom on the Capital Mall. Photo by Buddy Sector. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 3/24/16.
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The giant sequoia naturally occurs only on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. One more reason you have to visit California!
The giant sequoia is the largest living thing by volume: nothing can match the immense size of a sequoia.
The tree is naturally resistant to fire: even when a sequoia catches on fire (generally due to a lightning strike), the natural tannin in the wood will cause the fire to burn itself out.
Though logging was tried in the 1800s, it was found that when the sequoias fell, the wood often shattered, leaving only small pieces as harvestable lumber. Eventually, logging stopped because it just wasn’t worth it.
Sequoias are naturally disease resistant as well, and live for hundreds and hundreds of years.
The greatest danger to sequoias, we’ve found, is that these giants sometimes lose their balance … and topple over. Falling down is the biggest cause of sequoia deaths in nature.
Therefore, the sequoias grow in groups. There are 68 naturally occurring groves of sequoia, and as the trees grow together, they interlock their roots. By grouping together, you see, they help to keep each other standing up, facing each day, come what may.
And that’s the lesson: you won’t fall over if you gather in a group and stay firmly rooted.
Together.
The only Sequoia grove complex managed by the Bureau of Land Management is on California’s Case Mountain, approximately 7½ miles southeast of the town of Three Rivers, California. The complex is comprised of six distinct sequoia grove units, which total about 444 acres. Three small groves – which have never been logged – protect majestic trees that are 6-16 feet in diameter! These groves are part of the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area that has miles of mountain bike, foot and equestrian trails, and endless opportunities to be wowed! Photo by Bob Wick, BLM. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 3/25/16.
More
Wikipedia: Sequoiadendron giganteum
YouTube: Species Loss, Precipitation, and Fire in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park
Sequoia National Park
The Congress Trail
The World’s Largest Tree
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Larger than Switzerland, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve in Alaska is our nation’s biggest national park. Four mountain ranges run through it, with nine of the 16 highest peaks in the country. Its Malaspina glacier is bigger than the state of Rhode Island, and the possibilities for adventure are endless. Photo by Jacob Frank, National Park Service. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 2/28/16.
Ten years ago, Augustine volcano in Alaska swelled, rumbled and erupted. A gigantic cloud of ash rose above the mountain and two lava flows crawled down its sides. The eruption resulted in ash fall throughout south-central Alaska and disrupted air traffic over the state. Historically, Augustine volcano has been the most active volcano in Alaska’s Cook Inlet region with recent eruptions in 1976, 1986 and 2006. Photo by Cyrus Read of the US Geological Survey. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 3/24/16.
This bald eagle knew it was posing, right? Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park. Photo by Stewart Brackett. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 3/9/16.
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Lupine and the Grand Tetons in spring. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Photo by Jon LeVasseur. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 3/20/16.
Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park, seen from above the clouds. Photo by Howard Gutgesell. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 2/25/16.
View from the Highline Trail in Montana’s Glacier National Park. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 3/21/16.
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. One of the oldest wildlife refuges, St. Marks protects coastal marshes, islands and other wetlands that are home to diverse wildlife. Photo by Viktor Posnov. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 3/22/16.
Sunrise at Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park. Photo by Inge Johnsson. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 3/23/16.
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Yellowstone is a supervolcano. One of the world’s largest active volcanoes lies beneath Yellowstone. The first major eruption of the Yellowstone volcano occurred 2.1 million years ago and covered more than 5,790 square miles with ash. That’s among the largest volcanic eruptions known, and marks Yellowstone as a supervolcano (a term used to describe any volcano with an eruption of more than 240 cubic miles of magma). While the volcano is still active, it’s been about 70,000 years since the last lava flow. With the U.S. Geological Survey and University of Utah, the National Park Service established the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory in 2001 to monitor volcanic and seismic activity in the area. Pictured here is Great Fountain Geyser, one of the great geysers of Yellowstone. Photo by Greg Chancey. From the Department of the Interior’s blog.
Sunset at Old Faithful, Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Henry G Peabody. From the Park’s Historic Photos Collection, circa 1928.
Yellowstone has its own Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon isn’t just in Arizona — there’s also the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Created by erosion from the Yellowstone River, the canyon is more than 1,000 feet deep, 1,500-4,000 feet wide and roughly 20 miles long — it also provides endless views. A view of Lower Falls and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone from Artist Point by Diane Renkin, National Park Service. From the Department of the Interior’s blog.
Half the world’s hydrothermal features are found at Yellowstone. Yellowstone National Park preserves more than 10,000 hydrothermal features — an extraordinary collection of hot springs, mudpots, fumaroles, travertine terraces and — of course — geysers. Microorganisms called thermophiles — meaning “heat loving” — live in these features and give the park its brilliant colors. Grand Prismatic Spring at Midway Geyser Basin paints an incredible picture in vibrant blues, yellows and oranges. Photo by Natalia Ornia. From the Department of the Interior’s blog.
More
Yellowstone National Park
America’s Best Idea
How Wolves Change Rivers
North Twin Lake
Old Faithful
Steamy
The Animals Of Yellowstone
Traffic Jam
Twin Lakes
Uncle Tom’s Trail
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Arizona’s Arches National Park, as seen through Turret Arch. Photo by William Rainey. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 2/29/16.
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