Half Dome, Yosemite National Park Photograph by Jimmy Chin, National GeographicAlex Honnold takes on the third zigzag of Half Dome without a rope. He has just one more difficult section, or pitch, in the last three before reaching the summit.
Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park Photograph by Wai Chee Wong, Your ShotMost people know about the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park, but only a few are lucky to discover the wonder near Sol Duc. Download Wallpaper (1600 x 1200 pixels)
Sunset at Lower Lewis River Falls, WA Photograph by Scottyboipdx Weber, My ShotThe sun sets over Lower Lewis River Falls in Washington State’s Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The falls mark a wild and scenic stretch of the river, but other sections of the Lewis, which drains the state’s mighty Cascade Range, boast large dam and reservoir systems. Hydroelectric plants produce power, but they’ve changed the river’s natural character—to the special detriment of migratory fish like salmon. Utilities have agreed to begin trucking fish around the dams along the Lewis River, moving them from below these looming barriers to prime habitat upstream, above the dams.
Springboks, South Africa Photograph by Morkel Erasmus, Your ShotThe golden light at dusk and dawn in the Kalahari is amazing and can enhance the mood of a scene greatly. On this particular morning in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, the rising sun was filtered by an ancient forest of camel thorn acacia trees, with a herd of springbok gazelles in attendance to complete the scene.
Rock Climber, Peak District Photograph by Nick Brown, Your ShotA man climbs at sunset in Peak District National Park, England.
Deer, England Photograph by Jim Richardson, National GeographicThe fallow deer in the park at Knole, Kent, have looked down at the world with long-nosed lordliness since the days of King James. The deer park is a rare survival from the roughly 700 in early 17th-century England. Download Wallpaper (1600 x 1200 pixels)
Merced River, Yosemite Photograph by Michael Melford, National GeographicMerced River, Yosemite National Park, California 114.5 miles protected since 1987; 8 additional miles since 1992 Download Wallpaper (1600 x 1200 pixels)