National Parks Series: Zion National Park, UT

Utah’s first national park, “[t}he geologic formations of Zion-formed over approximately 250 million years- record periods of time when this area was covered by a shallow sea; when huge, sluggish rivers, bordered by swamplands, meandered across the landscape; and when a vast desert-perhaps the largest on the planet-covered the region. The sand dunes of this desert are now Zion’s famous sculpted and colorful 2,000 foot cliffs.” (nps.gov)

Did You Know? Almost 12,000 years ago Zion’s first peoples… tracked mammoth, giant sloth, and camel across southern Utah. 

Get outside with our live cams in the Redwoods! 

EARTH DAY: CELEBRATE OUR PLANET

Get into Earth Day and get a live view of natural wonders on our Pearls of the Planet Live Cams.

You can see our newly-launched Owl Cams here. Visit the Redwoods for a taste of nature. Head over to our cams focused on endangered species like the Polar Bear and Giant Panda, or the once-endangered Osprey making a fantastic comeback on Hog Island. See what’s happening in Costa Rica, Hawaii and India to help protect our planet.

How will you celebrate today? Email us at share@explore.org - we’d love to hear your thoughts on Earth Day!

Earth Hour shared this from the Nature Conservancy about some amazing, pristine nature in Australia. Read more below about this beautiful photo and explore more nature. 

natureconservancy:

With nearly 15 million hectares of native vegetation, Australia’s Great Western Woodlands are still largely intact, blanketing one percent of the continent and supporting some of the world’s most unique and vulnerable ecosystems.

The Conservancy is part of an innovative collaboration between conservation groups, government, Indigenous communities and mining companies that is working to provide the Great Western Woodland’s people and wildlife with the tools to conserve their homes. Check it out: http://www.natureaustralia.org.au/work/index.htm

Photo by Mark Godfrey/TNC

Move Over Monday

Get on the road through the Redwood Forest. 

Did You Know? (from Redwoods.info): 

• The Redwoods are 20 million years old. 
• The world’s tallest tree was discovered in late 2006 in an undisclosed location in the Redwoods National and State Park in Humboldt County. It was named Hyperion and is 379.1 feet tall, which is nearly six stories taller than the Statue of Liberty.
• Redwoods have few natural enemies. Tannic acid makes them resistant to disease and insect infestation, and their thick, fibrous bark effectively resists fire. 

Check out the photo album from our last road trip here.