View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Travis Tritt (@realtravistritt)

Years ago, an orphaned baby fawn found shelter on country singer Travis Tritt’s porch. It was a rainy morning, and the deer kept Tritt company as he sipped his coffee. His 45-acre property is a frequent place for wildlife to visit, but this little fawn got the star treatment. Tritt’s wife Theresa looked after the baby forest animal, naming him Oakley and bottle-feeding him. Once Oakley was old enough, he went out on his own. Tritt didn’t see him again—until now.

While walking around the property one night in October 2022, a young deer snuck up on Tritt. “He obviously remembered me,” Tritt said in an Instagram post. “[He] came right up to me as if he had…never forgotten who I was and knew I wasn’t a threat to him.” In the video Tritt took of the sweet reunion, the singer pets Oakley and continually croons, “That’s a good boy.”

Oakley reciprocates affection to his former caregiver by allowing Tritt to pet him and even licking Tritt’s arm. It’s incredible seeing such a skittish animal share such tenderness with a human, and it showcases that love comes in all forms—and lasts for years. As Tritt says, “Nature is amazing!”

Years ago, an orphaned baby fawn found shelter on country singer Travis Tritt’s porch. His wife, Theresa, looked after the creature, naming him Oakley and bottle-feeding him. Once Oakley was old enough, he went out on his own, and the family didn't see him again.

While walking around his 45-acre property one night, Tritt was surprised by an old friend. The singer captured the sweet reunion and shared it with his followers.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Travis Tritt (@realtravistritt)

It’s incredible seeing such a skittish animal share such tenderness with a human, and it showcases that love comes in all forms—and lasts for years.

This is Oakley. He was an orphaned deer that my wife bottle raised as a baby. I had not seen him in years until he snuck up behind me as I was walking my property tonight. He obviously remembered me and knew I wasn’t a threat. Nature is amazing! pic.twitter.com/8a46gS7sr6

— Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) October 13, 2022

h/t: [The Dodo]

Related Articles:

Photographer Accidentally Captures Brilliant Optical Illusion of “Three-Headed Deer” Roaming in Forest

Adorable Dog Photobombs Her Pawrents‘ Wedding Photo With the Cutest Smile

Runner Stops Mid-Marathon to Rescue a Puppy and Makes a Lifelong Furry Friend

Man Braves Hurricane Ian to Rescue a Stranded Cat From Rising Waters

READ: Deer Remembers a Famous Friend Years After He Helped Rescue Him

Photo: CoreyFord/Depositphotos

Few of us rarely get to hear the beautiful and haunting sound of whale songs. But if you have, the tunes won't all be the same. Whales, like humans, experience cultural evolution through their sounds. The songs of male humpback whales, for instance, actually evolve when individual whales change, alter, or embellish parts of a standard song sequence and others in the group pick up on it and pass it along.

Now, there's new research to show that “song revolutions” happen, too. Sometimes, a whole new song is suddenly adopted from a neighboring population of whales. In fact, whales an astounding 8,700 miles (14,000 kilometers) apart from each other can be heard singing the same songs.

“Song is a striking example of non-human cultural transmission and evolution exhibited by oscine songbirds and possibly most baleen whales including humpback whales,” write a group of researchers who have published their findings in the Royal Society Open Science Journal.

Humpback whales on the east coast of Australia are singing the same tunes as whales in French Polynesia and the breeding waters of Ecuador. In each area, however, the same sounds might be strung together in slightly different—but specific—ways. Phrases of sound are repeated multiple times, almost like a chorus, and each whale song contains several of them. Yet now and again, the themes of the whale songs change; it's out with the old, in with the new, and suddenly a whole new song is top of the charts. Surprisingly, the new song is not always confined to a single group, or even to one area on the globe.

Previously, it was known that humpback whales over 6,000 miles apart were singing the same songs. New research shows that some whale songs have migrated east from French Polynesia across the Pacific Ocean and all the way to South America, a distance of 4,970 miles (around 8,000 kilometers). Some believe that whale songs potentially travel around the whole world.

Photo: fyletto/Depositphotos

“This study demonstrates songs first identified in western populations can be transmitted across the entire South Pacific, supporting the potential for a circumpolar Southern Hemisphere cultural transmission of song and a vocal culture rivaled in its extent only by our own,” the authors share. Research with humpback whales in South Africa and Brazil hints that a complete circumnavigation of whale songs might be perfectly plausible, as the melodies are transferred from one group to another.

The researchers have likened the songs of humpback whales to the characteristics of the songs of songbirds. Their research also “sheds light on the underlying mechanisms of social learning and cultural evolution in animals ranging from fish to other cetacean species through to humans.”

But how exactly do the whale songs pass from one group of humpbacks to another? Although it's not completely clear how this phenomenon occurs, it is very likely that it has to do with how whales move to different areas for breeding and for foraging. The extensive traveling by whale groups leads the researchers to believe that the songs are passed on from one area to another in a step-by-step way. A song revolution may begin in one group, and when the group moves to another area to feed, or to have their calves, they carry the song with them. Neighboring populations of humpback whales pick up on the song, absorb it, and then pass it on to another group.

We're still learning about whale songs and exactly what they mean. It's clear that whales, like humans, enjoy a novel tune that sometimes hits the top of the charts among their contemporaries. Or, in their underwater song world, it might even go global.

Whales up to 8,700 miles (14,000 kilometers) apart from each other can be heard singing the same songs.

Photo: ead72/Depositphotos

The way that songs are passed from one group of whales to another is likely to do with their routine movements to different places for foraging and breeding.

Photo: mathuias_berlin/Depositphotos

Listen to the incredible range and variation of whale songs on this YouTube video:

h/t: [ScienceAlert]

Related Articles:

Photographer Flies Across the World to Fulfill Boyhood Dream and Swim With Humpback Whales

Underwater Photographer Captures the Unique Beauty of Swimming With Humpback Whales

Humpback Whales Separated by a Continent Are “Remixing” Each Other’s Songs

Marine Scientists Race to Record Effects of Reduced Ocean Noise on Whales

READ: Humpback Whales 8,700 Miles Apart Are Found Singing the Same Songs

Photo: Juliano Costa, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

With shiny, iridescent berries that look like little Christmas ornaments, Pollia condensata takes home the title of the brightest living matter in the world. Also known as the marble berry, this fascinating perennial plant grows in the forests of Central Africa. Growing up to 3 feet tall, the plant sprouts clusters of up to 40 electric blue berries.

While iridescence isn't uncommon in the animal world—thinking of butterfly wings or a beetle shell—it's extremely rare for plants. So what accounts for the marble berry's striking appearance? In 2012, researchers from the UK published a study that revealed the mystery behind the plant's shininess. Using a sample of Pollia condensata from London's Kew Gardens, they were able to determine what accounted for its appearance.

Most plants rely on pigments for their color, but not the marble berry. Pigments break down over time, causing color to fade, but Pollia condensata can retain its color for decades because its pixelated coloration is structural. When researchers examined the sample from Kew Gardens—which was collected in Ghana in 1974—they saw that it was as vivid as ever.

Its smooth surface is reflective, just like a mirror. And just below the surface sit multiple layers of special cells made from cellulose fibers. These layers reflect a narrow wavelength of light, and each layer is slightly rotated, like a spiral. When light hits the top layer, some is reflected, and the rest passes through. This light then filters down through the remaining layers, like a sieve. The light reflected through each layer is exceptionally bright and produces strong colors in an effect known as Bragg reflection.

Interestingly, these shiny baubles aren't edible. The berries effectively act as a husk and are filled with seeds. This is also part of the reason that they are so durable, retaining their shape for years. Researchers believe that the plant relies on its berries looking similar to those of another blue plant that grows in the area. Birds mistakenly munch on marble berries, helping spread their seeds.

Pollia condensata is a plant found in the forests of Central Africa.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @marija_may_

Also known as the marble berry, its iridescent fruit is the brightest living matter in the world.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by P͙a͙t͙r͙i͙z͙i͙a͙ L͙o͙u͙ (@patrizia_lou)

h/t: [Discover Magazine]

Related Articles:

Tiny Succulents Grow as Adorable Rabbit-Shaped Plants in Japan

This Strange Plant Has Flowers with Petals Shaped Like Hummingbirds

This Giant “Corpse” Flower Found in Indonesia Is the World’s Largest Bloom

Mini Bonsai Trees Can Grow Full-Sized Apples, Quinces, and Pomegranates

READ: This African Plant Is the Brightest Object in the World

Photo of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, June 17, 2006 (Photo: anizza/DepositPhotos)

After Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022, the Operation London Bridge plan was put into motion. This described who should be informed about her death and in what order. While this mostly pertains to politicians and the press, there is another important exchange that takes place. According to a tradition called “telling the bees,” after the monarch dies, the official Palace beekeeper must visit the royal bees kept at Buckingham Palace and Clarence House and inform them of their master's passing.

This responsibility fell upon 79-year-old John Chapple, who has been the royal beekeeper for 15 years. When he received the news of the Queen's death, he journeyed to Buckingham Palace and Clarence House and tied black ribbons around each of the hives. Then, he knocked on the hives and said, “The mistress is dead, but don't you go. Your master will be a good master to you.” Afterward, he explained that King Charles III was their master, speaking always in a soft hush so as to not disturb the bees.

While it may seem like a strange custom to deliver the news to bees, it is actually an age-old tradition. It is believed that if the bees are not informed of their master's death, they will stop producing honey. However, this superstition is not limited to the British royal family. Its roots have actually been traced to Celtic mythology, where bees were viewed as messengers between the living and spirit world. Furthermore, the practice of “telling the bees” that there is a change in the household is practiced in other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, and Germany, and has even been recorded in the United States.

After Queen Elizabeth II's death, the official Palace beekeeper had to inform over a million royal bees of her passing.

Photo: smaglov/DepositPhotos

This tradition of “telling the bees” stems from the belief that they will stop producing honey if they are not told their master has died.

h/t: [IFL Science, Vanity Fair]

Related Articles:

Naive U.S. Tourist Asked the Queen to Take a Photo of Him With Her Bodyguard

How World Leaders and Celebrities Are Reacting to Queen Elizabeth II’s Death

The Life and Legacy of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s Longest-Reigning Monarch

READ: Over a Million “Royal Bees” Were Informed of Queen Elizabeth II’s Passing

Michael Farmer was walking around his property in Costa Rica when he paused to look at something peculiar on the leaves of a guava tree: a small piece of metal that seemed to be moving. He picked it up to see what it was, and realized he was holding a species of scarab beetle known as Chrysina limbata.

This chromatic insect played dead long enough for Farmer to capture some incredible images of its shell’s reflective qualities. “I was amazed by how beautiful it was,” he admits. “[I’ve] never seen anything like it.” In several images, you see the beetle acting as a crystal-clear mirror. Farmer notes the “utterly flawless reflection in the beetle,” and says it was “truly one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.”

These beetle sightings are becoming rarer, due to their population dwindling from habitat loss and collectors, making this encounter that much more special. Thankfully, Farmer carefully put the anacamptic bug back onto a leaf and it quickly flew away. Farmer says that although he’s “not much of an insect person,” he was “still amazed by it. Can’t wait to see another.”

Michael Farmer accidentally stumbled upon a reflective beetle known as Chrysina limbata while taking a stroll. He was able to capture these images before safely returning the insect to its spot on a guava tree.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Michael Farmer (@michael_farmer_meteoritehunter)

Michael Farmer: Instagram
h/t: [The Dodo]

Related Articles:

Illustrations Imagine Exquisite Art Nouveau-Inspired Jewelry as Iridescent Insects

Artist Hand-Engraves Incredible Gold Bug Coin with Mechanical Wings

Electric Pink “Glowing” Illustrations Shine a Light on Rare and Endangered Animals

READ: Man Finds Rare Mirror-Like Scarab Beetle While on a Stroll

Bees bless our planet in so many extraordinary ways. They are inspiring in their work ethic and organizational skills, and who doesn't love a delicious dollop of honey? In all that they do to pollinate our plants, these special insects feel the heat of hard work as much as we do. Luckily, there are some compassionate people who are trying to keep our buzzing buddies hydrated. In Japan, near Tokyo, Hitokotonushi Shrine has set up custom-made water fountains that look like tiny oases for the local hard-working bees.

Visitors to the shrine have basins of water on offer at the temizu-ya, a Shinto water ablution pavilion, for rehydration purposes. These water sanctuaries are replicated in miniature form in summer to accommodate the bees, giving them their own special place to cool off.

The little patches of bee sanctuaries are customized to accommodate the insect’s tiny but no less significant needs. The bees are kept hydrated and happy with gorgeously styled miniature landscapes that have diminutive architectural structures, soft moss, and other surfaces suitable to climb. The tiny watering points give insects of all kinds enough landing spots to drink without the risk of drowning. Access to clean, refreshing water to drink allows the bees to stabilize the temperatures of their hives, dilute their honey, and feed their young bees.

Such care for all creatures is what Shinto tradition and values are about. Respect for nature and accommodating and revering all living creatures is embedded in the Shinto way of life. This careful insect innovation includes a special water fountain built just for the bees. Another advantage of creating these bee spaces is that inter-species irritations between humans and bees are avoided, and no one gets stung.

A sign is installed at the shrine for the human visitors to ease relations with the bees that reads: “To those using the temizu, honeybees in the neighborhood are currently coming to the shrine to drink water. We are now guiding the bees to their own exclusive water drinking spot. They have a very gentle disposition so they rarely sting. Please look over them warmly without provoking them.”

When the images of the bee sanctuary were shared on the shrine’s Twitter, the story went viral. It’s heart-warming to know that people across the world care so much for the well-being of the greatest pollinators on the planet. In the height of a hot summer in Japan, these might be the coolest bees around.

Scroll down for more images of the bee oasis. To see images of the Hiokotonushi Shrine and the variety of lucky insects that frequent the tranquil and compassionate site, follow the shrine on Twitter. Find the exact location of the site near Tokyo on this map.

Japan's Hitokotonushi Shrine has created a small oasis specifically for local bees to stay hydrated in the summer heat.

Bee lovers and conservationists on Twitter are all abuzz with the tiny innovations that offer bees a spot to rest and hydrate.

The structures are designed so insects can carefully drink water without drowning in it.

Watch the bees using the shrine's hydrating station:

【今年も御来社！ミツバチ専用水飲み場はじめました】
暑くなるとミツバチさんが団体で手水舎に水を飲みに（正確には〝運びに〟かな？）来ます。
連日の猛暑で今年は1ヶ月ほど早めの御来社。
慌てて専用水飲み処を作りました。暖かく見守っていただければ幸いです。#ミツバチ　#水飲み場 pic.twitter.com/x1pVfKIzUB

— 一言主神社 (@hitokoto0913) July 6, 2022

Hitokotonushi Shrine: Twitter | Website
h/t: [Spoon & Tamago]

All images via Hitokotonushi Shrine.

Related Articles:

Innovative ‘Bee Bricks’ Are Drilled With Tiny Holes To Offer Homes for Solitary Bees

5 Easy Ways That Anyone Can Help Save Bees, Right From Your Own Backyard

Leicester Is Turning All of Its Bus Stops Into Green Roof Pollinator Gardens for Bees

Artist Ava Roth on Creative Curiosity and Her Collaboration With Honeybees [Podcast]

READ: Japanese Shrine Creates Custom Water Sanctuary for Bees To Stay Hydrated

Photo: Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Sometimes, the natural landscape can bear an uncanny resemblance to creatures in the wild–one of these curious places is off the coast of Iceland. On the island of Heimaey, there is a rock formation that, from certain angles, looks like a massive elephant taking a drink out of the Atlantic Ocean.

Two key elements contribute to this playful illusion. Firstly, the “wrinkles” in the cliff mimic an elephant's leathery skin–this particular texture was formed by basalt rock, a type of material that results from the rapid cooling of thick lava. Coupled with indentations that look like an eye and a giant, floppy ear, it's almost as if this is an elephant that's hiding in plain sight.

Many visitors to Heimaey have noticed the striking comparison. Check out some of their documentation below, and even more over on Flickr.

On the island of Heimaey, there's a natural rock formation that looks just like an elephant.

The large elephant is only visible from certain angles, but it's undeniable.

The large “land animal” looks like its drinking from the ocean with its long trunk.

Mother Nature has beautiful, mysterious ways of leaving us all in awe every day!

h/t: [Colossal]

This article has been edited and updated.

Related Articles:

Striking Black and White Photos of Beautiful Rock Formations Found in the Western U.S.

When the Sun Hits Just Right, This Fountain in Italy Looks Like It’s Spewing Lava

Giant Elephant Sculpture Made Entirely of Recycled Tires and Steel

READ: Natural Rock Formation Looks Like an Elephant Drinking from the Ocean

“A Cat and Its Prize” by Dennis Stogsdill (USA). Overall winner and Winner, Animal Behavior
Photo location: Ndutu, Republic of Tanzania
“We had received word about a serval hunting birds along the shore of Lake Ndutu (lower Serengeti) so we raced over to see. Upon arrival, we quickly realized that it was in fact a caracal and not a serval, and it was hunting flamingos that were feeding in the shallows. Within a minute of arrival, the caracal started stalking and eventually was successful (in dramatic fashion) at hunting one of the beautiful but unlucky birds. In this image you see the caracal walking off with its prize.”

Over 8,000 photos were entered into the 2022 Nature TTL Photographer of the Year contest. Incredible images of landscapes and wildlife took home awards across many different categories. But, in the end, American photographer Dennis Stogsdill was named Nature TTL Photographer of the Year and took home a cash prize of £1,500 (approximately $1,773) for his glimpse at nature in its most primal state.

Taken in the lower Serengeti, Stogsdill's photo shows a caracal proudly walking back with a flamingo that it's hunted. The bright feathers of the flamingo contrast with the mud-soaked fur of this medium-sized wild cat. For Will Nicholls, founder of Nature TTL, there is no doubt about the strength of this image.

“This is nature at its most raw. The caracal is soaked from chasing the flamingos through the waters, but has come out on top,” he shares. “The contrasting colors against the dark surroundings really make this image pop. A wonderful scene to have been able to observe no doubt, let alone capture exquisitely on camera.”

Other winning and runner-up images are equally impressive. Standouts include Mauro Tronto‘s once-in-a-lifetime photo of a rainbow and the Northern Lights shining over Iceland's Godafoss waterfall. In addition, 13-year-old photographer Achintya Murthy was named Youth Nature TTL Photographer of the Year for a beautiful image of two Malabar parakeets fighting over a tree stump. The color of the birds and the young photographer's ability to capture this moment of action make it a standout.

Scroll down to check out the winners and runners-up across the contest's eight categories; and, if you are a nature photographer, prepare to enter next year's contest, which opens for entries in January 2023.

Here are the winners of the 2022 Nature TTL Photographer of the Year contest.

“I See You” by Tomasz Szpila (Poland). Winner, Wild Portraits.
Photo location: Moremi, Okavango Delta, Botswana
“When a huge lion looks you right in the eyes, you immediately forget that you are sitting safely in the car. Instinctively, you cower and slowly retreat deeper inside the car so as not to provoke a predator. Fortunately, he and his brothers were busy consuming the young buffalo that had been hunted several minutes earlier.”

“Vantage Points” by Achintya Murthy (India). Winner, Under 16.
Photo location: Hosanagara, Karnataka, India
“Malabar Parakeets are wonderful creatures. They are also called blue-winged parakeets. They usually flock together and are seen in huge numbers. In the midst of a bunch of activities, it was my privilege to shoot this image from a bird hide. These two are fighting over a stump that had paddy grains as it feeds.”

“Caviar” by Talia Greis (Australia). Runner-up, Underwater.
Photo location: Chowder Bay, Sydney, Australia
“A male Eastern Gobbleguts carrying eggs in its mouth. When the female is ready to make the transfer, the male opens his mouth near her cloaca orifice, as she pushes the eggs out in a cone-like manner. The male uses the tip wedged in his throat to keep them in position, while still allowing himself to feed, and protect the precious eggs. He will continue to hold the eggs for a month before hatching occurs.”

Over 8,000 photos were entered into the annual contest.

“African Elephant Puffing Dust” by Michael Snedic (Australia). Runner-up, Animal Behavior.
Photo location: Ngorongoro Crater, Republic of Tanzania
“After wallowing in the mud, this majestic African Elephant was walking towards our safari vehicle in the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, Africa. It sucked up some dust in its trunk and before long, it turned its trunk upwards and released a huge puff of dust. My camera was set to continuous shutter and I was clicking away like crazy—an exhilarating moment!”

“The Top of Australia” by Josselin Cornou (France). Winner, The Night Sky.
Photo location: Kosciusko, Australia
“This photo was taken during a trip to Kosciusko, the highest point in Australia. It is also one of the best places to capture the Milky Way, in part thanks to the dark skies.”

“The Astonishing” by Mauro Tronto (Italy). Runner-up, The Night Sky.
Photo location: Godafoss, Iceland
“This shot is a mixture of magical elements: the light of the moon whose incidence at the right angle generated a magnificent rainbow; the beautiful northern lights shot just above the lunar rainbow; finally Godafoss, a spectacular waterfall in Iceland. All elements are real and occurring at the same time.”

“Glow Worm Metropolis” by Josselin Cornou (France). Runner-up, Urban Wildlife.
Photo location: Helensburg, Australia
“: A city of glow worms are populating this old train station, providing beautiful lights on rainy days. This place was an old railway, which is now abandoned. The railway was closed at the beginning of the 20th century. Then, nature started to populate this place. In this photo, millions of glowworms can be seen. To make this photo happen, I had to travel to the location during a storm, as an ephemeral waterfall would start to appear. A day after this photo was taken, the tunnel was flooded.”

“Ice Bear” by Geoffrey Reynaud (France). Winner, Camera Traps.
Photo location: Klukshu, Yukon, Canada
“A large grizzly bear passes in front of my camera trap. In the Yukon, Canada, a unique phenomena happens every year. The bears will freeze their fur and stay out until the month of December, despite the temperature reaching as low as -30 degrees Celsius. This picture was taken by a camera trap set up along the river about 2 days before a snowstorm. The temperature was starting to drop to -15C, and the bear was only starting to become an ‘ice bear'.”

The winners and runners-up show all facets of the natural world—from landscapes to wildlife.

“Sunset Ray” by Andy Schmid (Switzerland). Winner, Underwater.
Photo location: Tuna Factory, Maldives
“A Pink Whipray splitting a school of Bannerfishes, shot against the setting sun on a late afternoon at the famous dive site “Tuna Factory” that is located close to Malé, the capital of the Maldives. Photographed while SCUBA diving.”

“Top of the World” by Sascha Fonseca (Germany). Runner-up, Camera Traps.
Photo location: Ladakh, India
A Snow leopard scans for prey across the jagged peaks of the Ladakh mountain range in India. Thick snow blankets the ground, but the big cat’s dense coat and furry footpads keep it warm. I captured this image during a three year DSLR camera trap project in the Indian Himalayas. Challenges were many: High altitude, low oxygen, luna-esque terrain, finding productive locations, getting the equipment in place, and maintaining it over long periods of time.

“The Journey of a Moth” by Tibor Litauszki (Hungary). Winner, Small World.
Photo location: Őrségi National Park, Hungary
“I managed to photograph this moth in summer at dusk. To keep track of the flight, I used an LED headlight, and I lit the moth with a flash. I made the twilight mood with multi-exposure inside the camera.”

“A Moment of Wilderness” by Matt Engelmann (Switzerland). Runner-up, Wild Portraits.
Photo location: Graubünden, Switzerland
“Since I cautiously observed the dog fox for a month, I noticed that this place was well used as a marking spot. The picture is taken with a wide-angle lens with a remote shutter release, so as not to disturb the fox.”

“Pretty in Pollen” by Tim Crabb (United Kingdom). Runner-up, Small World.
Photo location: Mutter's Moor near Sidmouth, Devon, UK
“A Micro-moth (Micropterix calthella) covered in golden balls of pollen from a creeping buttercup flower found in Mutter's Moor near Sidmouth, Devon, UK. The final image is a compilation of focus-stacked pictures.”

“The Lava” by Marek Biegalski (Poland). Runner-up, Landscapes.
Photo location: Reykjavik, Iceland
“Lava poured out of the crater—changing Iceland's map forever. The eruption began on 18 March 2021 in the Geldingadalir valley at the Fagradalsfjall Volcano mountain on the Reykjanes peninsula. I captured this image on the 17th of September, as the eruption and lava flow that day was spectacular.”

“Nature Fights Back” by Bertus Hanekom (South Africa). Winner, Landscapes.
Photo location: Loxton, Northern Cape, South Africa
“A thunderstorm passes over a sunflower which, against the odds, has managed to survive on a rubbish dump in the semi-arid Karoo region of South Africa.”

“Great Crested Grebe” by Maksymilian Paczkowski (Poland). Runner-up, Under 16.
Photo location: Pond near Poznań, Poland
“My local pond is great place for grebes. There are at least four breeding species on this pond and they're pretty tame because fishermen are often there. This little great crested grebe was posing for me through all the time that sun was setting.”

“City Hare” by Jan Piecha (Germany). Winner, Urban Wildlife.
Photo location: Kassel, Germany
“During the daytime this place on the outskirts is totally crowded by people going about their daily business. But at night, it belongs to the animals that come out to play under the streetlights.”

Nature TTL: Website | Facebook | Instagram 

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Nature TTL.

Related Articles:

35 Beautiful Examples of Nature Photography

Stunning Winners of the 2021 World Nature Photography Awards

Arctic Seals Resting on Floating Ice Wins Nature Photography Contest

Beautiful Photo of Adorable Hare in a Field Wins Nature Photography Contest

READ: Winners of 2022 Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Contest Celebrate Raw Beauty of Nature

Lake Louise in Banff National Park Alberta Canada (Photo: JamesWheeler/Depositphotos)

The perfect summer getaway looks different for everyone. While some want to explore busy metropolises, others prefer to immerse themselves in the outdoors. Well, if American nature lovers are looking for their next picturesque destination, Canada is offering free passes to their array of beautiful national parks. Destination Canada and Parks Canada are sponsoring a contest that is giving away 4,000 Parks Canada Discovery Passes (each worth $113 USD).

These passes provide free entry to all of Canada's 48 national parks and national park reserves. This includes some of Canada's most well-known destinations like Banff National Park in Alberta, which features stunning views of the Rocky Mountains and turquoise glacial lakes, and Jasper National Park, which is Canada's largest national park. In addition, the contest will choose one winner to receive “A Dream Nature Sabbatical” worth $20,000 USD.

To enter the contest you must be a U.S. citizen and at least 21 years of age by the date of entry. You can learn more and join the contest by visiting Canada Refresh's website. Entries close July 31, 2022. The winner of the Dream Sabbatical will be chosen on August 12, 2022 and the 4,000 recipients of the Parks Canada Discovery Pass will be mailed their free pass directly.

U.S. citizens have the opportunity to win a free pass to Canadian national parks.

Bow Lake along the Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada (Photo: JamesWheeler/Depositphotos)

Canada is giving away 4,000 Parks Canada Discovery Pass and one sabbatical worth $20,000 USD in Canada's National Parks

Floe Lake in Summer in Kootenay National Park British Columbia, Canada (Photo: dnsphotography/Depositphotos)

You must be a U.S. citizen and over the age of 21 to be eligible to enter. Entries close July 31, 2022.

Georgian Bay in Bruce Peninsula National Park near Tobermory village in Ontario province, Canada (Photo: pftrip/Depositphotos)

Canada Refresh: Website
h/t: [Lifehacker]

Related Articles:

Artist Creates Funny Travel Posters for National Parks Based on Their Bad Reviews

US National Parks Are Having an Internet Fight for “Best Sunset” and It’s Really Sweet

Chile Transforms 10 Million Acres of Land Into Protected National Parks

READ: U.S. Citizens Can Win Free Passes to Canadian National Parks

Green Sky’s all of the sudden in South Dakota USA … pic.twitter.com/BxMIolG6mZ

— ⚡️hamaryah Ban Yahawadah (@eddiedevonne) July 5, 2022

Green skies sound like the backdrop to a sci-fi film, not what you might see when you look out the window. However, that was exactly what people in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, witnessed on Tuesday, July 5. Due to a naturally occurring but rare phenomenon, the sky turned a vibrant green. To understand the startling effect of this sight, you have to take a look at the photos people posted of the event.

In many of these surreal images, the skyline of Sioux Falls is overwhelmed by an acid-green sky storming overhead. While many people joked online about how this signaled the start of the apocalypse, an NWS meteorologist kindly shed some scientific light on the subject. “Water/ice particles in storm clouds with substantial depth and water content will primarily scatter blue light,” Cory Martin explained in his infographic. “When the reddish light scattered by the atmosphere illuminates the blue water/ice droplets in the cloud they will appear to glow GREEN. It takes a tremendous amount of water content within the cloud to achieve this color, which usually means a substantial amount of ice (large hail) has to be present).”

So, the neon green sky that South Dakotans saw on Tuesday most likely preceded a strong thunderstorm with a lot of hail. Fortunately, people recorded its striking appearance before the sky cleared up again.

People capture the surreal sight of a green sky in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The sky turns green in South Dakota recently, looks like a scene from a sci-fi film. pic.twitter.com/jZPb253pBw

— Seekers Of The Cosmos (@SeekersCosmos) July 7, 2022

GOODNESS GREEN. This is a look at the sky in Sioux Falls right now as severe storms push through from one of the DOT cams. #SDwx @foxweather pic.twitter.com/VhSEvxpE1D

— Heather Brinkmann (@WeatherHx) July 5, 2022

Though extremely unusual to see, it is not a post-apocalyptic scene.

Video of the green sky behind the wall cloud as it passes Sioux Falls, SD

SoDakZak on Reddit pic.twitter.com/RzsnKwX19R

— Discover Earth (@discoverearthhq) July 6, 2022

The green sky is caused by light being scattered by ice.

Pics of the green sky from my family in Sioux Falls have been incredible! Had to dig up this fun green cloud infographic I made back in the day. Hail reports not too large at the moment, but storms are very moisture loaded in this warm, tropical environment. #SDwx #IAwx pic.twitter.com/S39JLSRfEu

— Cory Martin (@cory_martin) July 5, 2022

When it is this green, it usually indicates that there is a lot of ice, or hail, in the sky.

The sky turned green yesterday in Sioux Falls, SD, USA pic.twitter.com/qCrkJRKHiO

— John 8:32 Truth will set you free (@forYA7747Y) July 7, 2022

Have never seen something like that.
Green sky with combination of blue in Sioux falls SD#sdwx pic.twitter.com/aAq5G2K9Xb

— Aafaque (@aafaque33) July 5, 2022

h/t: [IFL Science]

Related Articles:

Filmmaker Simulates the Brilliant Wonders of Space Using Glitter and Ink

Watch as Billions of Fireflies Simultaneously Light Up a Nature Reserve in India

Spectacular Photo Captures a Total Lunar Eclipse and Milky Way in One Otherworldly Scene

READ: People in South Dakota Captured the Surreal Sight of a Green Sky