For over 150 years, the Bodie Island Lighthouse in the Outer Banks of North Carolina has kept silent watch over the treacherous waters known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic.”
Standing 164 feet tall, the lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation and still features its original first-order Fresnel lens, whose powerful beam can be seen by vessels up to 19 nautical miles offshore in clear weather.
Photo at @capehatterasnps by Ethan Allen
Seeing a bear can be unforgettable, but your safety depends on your actions. Bears are wild animals, and public lands are their home.
Recent incidents are a serious reminder to stay alert, give bears space, store food properly, and know what to do before entering bear country.
Learn more about staying safe in bear country, link in bio.
Photo by C. Adams / NPS
Picture yourself surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, from an old growth coastal cedar forest to pristine wetlands. Willapa National Wildlife Refuge is the place to see what the Pacific Northwest looked like over 100 years ago.
The Washington refuge preserves habitat for spawning wild salmon, hundreds of thousands of migrating shorebirds and waterfowl, and threatened species such as the western snowy plover and marbled murrelet.
Photo by Andy Zahn
A river of lava glowing in the dark, captured from space 🌋
Landsat satellites, a joint mission between @nasa and @usgslandsat don’t always take the night off. By special request, they can collect nighttime imagery that helps scientists monitor erupting volcanoes, wildfires, glaciers at twilight, and more.
This nighttime image from Landsat 9 captured Mauna Loa’s 11.3-mile-long lava flow on December 4, 2022, illuminating a plume of ash in the atmosphere above Hawaii. Swipe to see how it looked from the ground the next day.
Want to know what a certain volcano, wildfire, or icy landscape looks like after dark from space? Learn more about what Landsat can see at night and how to submit a special imagery request by clicking the link in today’s USGS story.
Take the break and spend some time in nature. You're important. The outdoors and public lands are waiting for you.
Alt Text: Two people paddle red kayaks down Montana’s Blackfoot River, flanked by rocky banks and dense pine forests under a hazy mountain backdrop. A pair of people sit on the rocks near the river’s edge, enjoying the peaceful riverside scene.
Every season brings something new to Beaver Marsh.
You might hear choruses of frogs, spot turtles gliding through lily pads, catch a beaver at work along the water’s edge, or listen for northern cardinals in the trees.
One of the most diverse habitats in @cuyahogavalleynps , Beaver Marsh draws visitors back again and again to experience it in every season.
Photo by Anthony Boarman | @aboarman
During Police Week, we honor the courage and sacrifice of the law enforcement officers who protect America’s public lands and communities.
From some of the most remote and challenging landscapes in the country, Interior law enforcement officers serve every day to keep visitors safe and safeguard irreplaceable natural and cultural resources.
Their service reflects a commitment to safety and stewardship. We’re grateful for all they do.
Happy Mother’s Day!
From those first wobbly steps to every moment after, moms are always there.
Sending love to all the moms out there today. ❤️
Photo by Taylor Albright | @TaylorThomasAlbright
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A bison stands close beside a young calf taking its first unsteady steps in a grassy field.
There’s no better place to celebrate @Freedom250 than at a national park!
Visited Rocky Mountain National Park earlier this year, where the work of @NationalParkService staff and investments from @POTUS ’ Great American Outdoors Act are delivering WORLD CLASS visitor experiences!
Each spring, the Cahaba River comes alive with one of the Southeast’s most remarkable blooms.
The Cahaba lily thrives in swift, sunlit water, anchoring itself to rocks as it blooms in bright white clusters across the river.
Managed by @usfws , Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge is home to the largest known stand of Cahaba lilies.
Photo by Keith Boseman
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Clusters of white Cahaba lilies bloom in shallow, fast-moving river water, surrounded by green vegetation with a forested shoreline and sunset sky in the background.
Today marks the 81st anniversary of Allied victory in Europe, bringing an end to World War II on the continent.
At the World War II Memorial, stone and bronze honor the millions who served, remember those who never came home, and mark a turning point in the fight to restore freedom.
As the generation who lived this history grows smaller, places like this ensure their stories endure. We honor their courage, their service, and the sacrifice that made victory possible. 🇺🇸
Photo by Carol M. Highsmith
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The Atlantic Pavilion at the World War II Memorial
Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge offers a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with Minnesota’s tallgrass prairie.
Visitors can explore the wildlife drive, where granite rock outcrops rise from the landscape and a rich mix of habitats supports a wide variety of wildlife.
Known as the “keeper of the prairie,” the refuge works to maintain and restore native grasslands while providing vital nesting habitat for waterfowl and other grassland birds.
Photos by Mike Budd / USFWS
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Photo 1: Purple coneflowers bloom across a tallgrass prairie at sunset, their pink petals and dark centers lit by warm golden light as grasses sway in the background.
Photo 2: Wilson’s phalarope in flight over a green grassy wetland, wings outstretched and body angled forward, with a softly blurred horizon in the background.
Photo 3: Blazing star, black-eyed susan and wild bergamot at sunrise.
Photo 4: A river otter swimming in blue water, head and neck above the surface with droplets clinging to its whiskers.
