Rafting at the Lee Valley White Water Centre in Hertfordshire, England (@ Richard Allen/Alamy)

Rafting at the Lee Valley White Water Centre in Hertfordshire, England (@ Richard Allen/Alamy)

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• These rafters are enjoying London\s world-class whitewater center. But this week they\ll have to deflate their rafts…""To make way for these rapid racers
• A daughter of former Olympians is competing here in the women\s canoe slalom competition.""Must be something in the water
• Twenty years after its Olympic-sport debut, a watery version of slalom ski racing…""Still delivers thrills without the snowy chills
• These raging rapids have already proved a bit too wet and wooly...""For the Olympic torch

Matthew Mitcham on the diving platform at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park in Stratford, London, England (@ ANDY RAIN/epa/Corbis)

Matthew Mitcham on the diving platform at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park in Stratford, London, England (@ ANDY RAIN/epa/Corbis)

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• Approach. Flight. Entry. These are the crucial points to success in this sport.""Also, no splashing
• Matthew Mitcham (pictured) took home the gold in the 2008 Games and set a record for the highest score.""Check out his winning dive
• If your local pool doesn\t thrill the way it once did…""What\s an adventurous diver to do?
• Swimwear has come a long way in the past 100 years.""Imagine trying to compete in these stylish suits

Pied avocets in Texel, Netherlands (@ Winfried Wisniewski/Corbis)

Pied avocets in Texel, Netherlands (@ Winfried Wisniewski/Corbis)

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• Out together, dancing beak to beak.""What are these blue-legged beauties?
• Okay, so it\s a bill, not a beak.""It\s still great for scratching those hard-to-reach spots
• En garde! These birds weren\t photographed in the heat of combat.""But these Olympic athletes were
• To feed, they wade in the surf, but manage to stay dry thanks to one helpful familial trait.""Maybe they inspired a few circus performers

Targets during archery training for the Beijing 2008 Olympics at Olympic Green Archery Field in Beijing, China (@ Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Targets during archery training for the Beijing 2008 Olympics at Olympic Green Archery Field in Beijing, China (@ Michael Steele/Getty Images)

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• Everybody knows hitting the bull\s-eye is the goal.""But how is this game scored?
• Long before “The Hunger Games,” another fictional archer battled corrupt rulers.""Was he a thief or a hero?
• Basketball-archery isn\t an Olympic sport yet.""But this trick shot is still fun to watch
• There\s a celestial archer whose bow is aimed at the heart of a scorpion.""Who stands poised to fire in the stars?

Olympic Park Stadium, ArcelorMittal Orbit Tower, and Aquatics Centre in London, England (@ Charles Bowman/eStock Photo)

Olympic Park Stadium, ArcelorMittal Orbit Tower, and Aquatics Centre in London, England (@ Charles Bowman/eStock Photo)

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• This twisting tower is now the tallest public sculpture in the U.K.""Watch it rise from the ground up
• There\s no roof on this massive creation of steel and concrete.""All the better to hear the roar of the crowd
• If the Games inspire a trip to London…""Get some travel tips from the experts before you go
• Just 17 days after the Summer Games have their closing ceremony here, another competition begins in this stadium.""What brings a second group of elite athletes to London?

Rustic Black River covered bridge near South Haven, Michigan (@ Tara Vorhes/Getty Images)

Rustic Black River covered bridge near South Haven, Michigan (@ Tara Vorhes/Getty Images)

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• Historians believe wooden relics like this have staying power because their roofs protect them from the elements.""Here are some others that have endured the test of time
• Covered bridges were often designed to look like barns so horses wouldn\t be spooked as they entered them.""Take a ride on a sleigh to see if this theory works
• He pioneered the assembly line, but when it came to covered bridges…""Who spent months looking for a premade version?
• In 1988, an old train trestle was converted into this covered bridge in a “Rails to Trails” state park. Jump on your bike and head west.""You\ll end up in a Great Lakes resort community

Field of sunflowers in Castile and León, Spain (@ Jesus Gonzalez/Getty Images)

Field of sunflowers in Castile and León, Spain (@ Jesus Gonzalez/Getty Images)

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• If you find yourself missing the sun on a cloudy day…""Merely look into the face of one of these flowers
• Which Post-Impressionist was known as…""“The painter of the sunflowers”?
• A nearby university town has attracted international scholars for nearly 800 years.""Take a 21st-century tour of this ancient intellectual hotbed
• Although native to the Americas, these blossoms are growing in the central plateau…""Of which sunny Iberian kingdom?

Sea otter grooming in Prince William Sound, Alaska (@ Donald M. Jones/Minden Pictures/Corbis)

Sea otter grooming in Prince William Sound, Alaska (@ Donald M. Jones/Minden Pictures/Corbis)

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• “Oh, no! I got water in my eyes again!”""(Things marine mammals never say)
• If most of your day is spent in the water, how do you take a nap without drifting off?""That\s where the kelp beds come into play
• A study is tracking the reproduction cycles of these wild marine animals.""Scientists are getting the scoop from their poop
• This bathing beauty spends most of her day lounging in the water...""But now and then, she\ll take time to peep out at her amazing surroundings

Elephant trails crisscross the green grasses of Amboseli National Park, Kenya (@ George Steinmetz/Corbis)

Elephant trails crisscross the green grasses of Amboseli National Park, Kenya (@ George Steinmetz/Corbis)

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• It\s so dry in the surrounding landscape that you\ll often find herds of these giants…""Bellying up to this lush reserve that locals call the “place of water”
• If you\re up for a safari, but the animals make you a little nervous, take a cue from this photographer…""And launch into the skies
• Elephants have a wide range of vocalizations that serve as greetings, warnings, demonstrations of anger, and affection.""Who\s recording the “secret” dictionary?
• In which country will you find this herd\s equatorial home?""Hint: It\s named after Africa\s second-highest mountain

Elephant trails bisect the green grasses of Amboseli National Park, Kenya (@ George Steinmetz/Corbis)

Elephant trails bisect the green grasses of Amboseli National Park, Kenya (@ George Steinmetz/Corbis)

comments,

• It\s so dry in the surrounding landscape that you\ll often find herds of these giants…""Bellying up to this lush reserve that locals call the “place of water”
• If you\re up for a safari, but the animals make you a little nervous, take a cue from this photographer…""And launch into the skies
• Elephants have a wide range of vocalizations that serve as greetings, warnings, demonstrations of anger, and affection.""Who\s recording the “secret” dictionary?
• In which country will you find this herd\s equatorial home?""Hint: It\s named after Africa\s second-highest mountain

Overflow from Lower Nihotupu Reservoir near Auckland, New Zealand (@ Robin Bush/Getty Images)

Overflow from Lower Nihotupu Reservoir near Auckland, New Zealand (@ Robin Bush/Getty Images)

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• They call this the “hole in the water.”""Can you see why?
• When rain comes down in heavy bouts, the water overflows…""And it has to go somewhere
• A new trail through these mountains was named after a local climber who once famously scaled the tallest peak in the world.""It\s a challenging trek, but would you expect less from Hillary?
• No use crying over spilled water. It\ll eventually make its way down...""To this glittering city on the Kiwi coast

Umbrellas on a sunny beach in Southern Thailand (@ Ocean/Corbis)

Umbrellas on a sunny beach in Southern Thailand (@ Ocean/Corbis)

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• Peek out from under the umbrella…""To catch these sunny views
• While walking along the beach, keep your eyes peeled for broken glass.""Especially when it\s this kind
• If you\re searching for the perfect strip of sand…""Dr. Beach has a prescription for the sol
• Some of the world\s finest beaches are found on the shores of the Andaman Sea in a country once called Siam.""Where will you find these picturesque sands?

Partial eclipse of the moon setting over the Gulf of Mexico (@ David Nunuk/Corbis)

Partial eclipse of the moon setting over the Gulf of Mexico (@ David Nunuk/Corbis)

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• Forty-three years ago today, something happened…""That was out of this world
• \"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.\"""Which earthling uttered these famous words?
• There are those who howl and sing at the moon.""But who has the audacity to say he owns it?
• At least a couple times each year, the moon looks like someone took a big bite out of it.""What causes snack time in the night sky?

Colorful children's paddling pool in Watford, Hertfordshire, England (@ Jason Hawkes/Corbis)

Colorful children's paddling pool in Watford, Hertfordshire, England (@ Jason Hawkes/Corbis)

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• How do people stay cool around here on hot summer days?""Everyone jumps into the paddling pools!
• Unless you\ve got a friend with a helicopter, taking aerial photos like this can be tricky. Which is a shame, because…""We hear the folks around here are outstanding in their fields
• Something magical was recently filmed at a former aircraft manufacturing site near here.""Quidditch, anyone?
• For over 250 years, the Earls of Essex lived here on a sprawling gated estate.""Now that the property\s been handed over to the community, let\s survey the public park from the sky

Still image of time-lapsed night sky and lights in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Utah (@ Duncan Frazier/Getty Images)

Still image of time-lapsed night sky and lights in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Utah (@ Duncan Frazier/Getty Images)

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• Twice a year, photographers gather before sunset and patiently wait…""For some mitten-on-mitten action
• Starry, starry nights and bright headlights decorate this evening scene.""To capture scenes like this, you need equipment that can speed up time
• This iconic landscape served as the backdrop for many of the greatest Hollywood Westerns.""Which director made this valley a star of the silver screen?
• Drive across the Trail of the Ancients in this monumental national park, and you\ll be in the heart of the American West.""And yet, you\ll also be in another nation. Where are you?

Whitemargin unicornfish (@ Chris Hellier/Corbis)

Whitemargin unicornfish (@ Chris Hellier/Corbis)

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• What you\re looking at is not a mythical creature, a plastic model, nor a manipulated photo.""It\s just a fish, with a really big “nose”
• What kind of fish inherits a Latin name like “Naso”?""You might want to take a look at the extended family album
• The nose knows, and although this schnoz is exceptional, it\s got competition on dry land.""And it\s not Cyrano de Bergerac
• At an average length of 3 feet, you likely won\t see this fish in many aquariums.""So why not take a swim in one of his neighborhoods instead?

The snow-capped La Sal Mountains behind sandstone pinnacles at Devils Garden in Arches National Park, Utah (@ Christian Kober/Aurora Photos)

The snow-capped La Sal Mountains behind sandstone pinnacles at Devils Garden in Arches National Park, Utah (@ Christian Kober/Aurora Photos)

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• A hike through this garden will take you past devilishly weird and wonderful rock formations.""And oh, the views are heavenly
• Camping, canyoning, mountain biking, and a slew of other activities keep outdoor enthusiasts happy around here.""But it takes skill and a little craziness to improvise like this
• The elements and gravity have transformed sandstone mountains into pinnacles, bridges, and towers.""But this park was named after this iconic shape
• Only a few miles south, the waters of the Colorado River flow past an oasis.""Welcome to “one of the best small towns in the West”

The crypt at Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire, England (@ Peter Lewis/Getty Images)

The crypt at Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire, England (@ Peter Lewis/Getty Images)

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• The basement here seems to have…""A flooding problem
• Look outside. Legend has it that the weather we have today will continue for 40 days.""Who should we blame (or thank) for this forecast?
• Fans flock here to pay their respects to novelist Jane Austen, who\s buried in the nave. But few know…""There\d be no nave, nor building, without this deep-sea diver
• Climb up the stairs and you\ll soon be in the company of kings and queens.""Of course these days, the royal inhabitants aren\t known for their conversation

Aerial view of Old Town (Stare Miasto) in Gdańsk, Poland (@ Filip Warulik/Alamy)

Aerial view of Old Town (Stare Miasto) in Gdańsk, Poland (@ Filip Warulik/Alamy)

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• It might be easier to boat through the canals and rivers here…""Than to navigate the roads with a bike or car
• This “old town” sits on an island within the historic Pomerania region.""You know what else sits here?
• In the 1980s, a mustachioed shipyard electrician here galvanized thousands to strike for workers\ rights.""Their solidarity eventually helped knock the bloc off the Soviets
• The heart of this town is found in its bountiful port.""Where is this city on the Baltic Sea?

Forsyth Park Fountain in Savannah, Georgia (@ Russell Kord/Aurora Photos)

Forsyth Park Fountain in Savannah, Georgia (@ Russell Kord/Aurora Photos)

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• Stately live oaks line the promenade leading to an ornate iron fountain installed in 1858.""Even after a few renovations, she still cuts quite a figure
• What did the U.S. government lose off the coast of this city?""Yeesh… You may not want to know
• In this fair city and in other cities nationwide, you might find public parks planted with clandestine vegetables and interloping flowers.""Who\s planting plots on public lots?
• You can expect a gracious welcome when you visit this “Hostess City of the South.”""Is this sociable town Charlotte or Savannah?

Students with white hats and red noisemakers at a baseball game in Osaka, Japan (@ Arthur Meyerson/Aurora Photos)

Students with white hats and red noisemakers at a baseball game in Osaka, Japan (@ Arthur Meyerson/Aurora Photos)

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• Something exciting has captured the attention of these kids.""You might even say it\s become their national pastime
• Some baseball players make their professional mark here before crossing the Pacific to continue their careers in the U.S.""Like this exceptional major leaguer
• During games, local fans will join in spirited chants and sing rousing songs.""And in the 7th-inning stretch, this happens…
• After an afternoon of fun and antics, these students will spill out of the ballpark…""And round the bases to their own home

The Athabasca River below the Athabasca Falls in Jasper National Park, Alberta (@ Ken Gillespie/Corbis)

The Athabasca River below the Athabasca Falls in Jasper National Park, Alberta (@ Ken Gillespie/Corbis)

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• Glacial waters have been carving through these layers of limestone for millennia to form cliffs and a raging 80-foot waterfall.""Anything this magnificent is bound to take some time
• No matter the weather or location, crossing a cold mountain river is dangerous business.""But this wild man goes shirtless to show us how it\s done
• Hop on a raft below the falls for a thrilling ride, but be sure to bundle up.""You\re bound to get wet
• This Rocky Mountain wilderness area is protected by the largest national park in the country.""Are we on the U.S. or Canadian side of the border?

Wind turbines near Livermore, California (@ SIME/eStock Photo)

Wind turbines near Livermore, California (@ SIME/eStock Photo)

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• Spinning atop this blustery, verdant hill…""Is Don Quixote\s nightmare
• Over the years, this region has shined the light on quite a few bright ideas.""One of the most famous is a world record-holder, glowing strong since 1901
• These high-tech turbines seem a far cry from the old windmills we\ve seen on farms.""But just how different are they, really?
• Where will you find whirling pinwheels, innovative scientific labs, and the gateway to one of the country\s oldest wine regions?""This electrifying city in the valley

Black-browed albatross family on Steeple Jason Island, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (@ Steve Bloom Images/Alamy)

Black-browed albatross family on Steeple Jason Island, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (@ Steve Bloom Images/Alamy)

comments,

• Some people call these birds \"mollymawks.\"""Do you know them by their more common name?
• Our feathered friends and other members of their extended family spend most of their lives in the air above the ocean.""But once they touch down, it can be an ordeal to get back up again
• Though these big-winged birds live all over the southern oceans, they thrive in one place in particular.""It\ll take some effort to get there
• When is an albatross not a sea bird?""You may never get rid of the answer

Mustard rows during springtime in a vineyard of the Carneros wine region, California (@ Nicholas Pavloff/Lonely Planet Images)

Mustard rows during springtime in a vineyard of the Carneros wine region, California (@ Nicholas Pavloff/Lonely Planet Images)

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• These mustard plants are a cover crop in a vineyard, not meant for harvesting.""Too bad they won\t be put to delicious use
• Time your visit here to see the grapes, not the mustard, then you can say:""Veni, vidi, vino!
• After visiting this vineyard, you may want to open a bottle back home.""Just try to fit this amazing corkscrew in your kitchen drawer
• If you were a viticulturalist…""This could be your workplace

Yo-yo tsuri water balloons in the pool at a neighborhood festival in Japan (@ Hiroyuki Uchiyama/Getty Images)

Yo-yo tsuri water balloons in the pool at a neighborhood festival in Japan (@ Hiroyuki Uchiyama/Getty Images)

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• Unless you have a very good story to tell, your water balloon fights…""Were never this epic
• Today, people in Japan are celebrating a legend of star-crossed lovers by writing their wishes on colorful paper and playing games with these balloons.""What\s this day for wishes all about?
• Ever wonder what water balloons do in zero gravity?""These guys found out
• When Is a water balloon not just a water balloon?""When it\s also a yo-yo

Bonfire in Iffeldorf, Bavaria, Germany (@ Konrad Wothe/Getty images)

Bonfire in Iffeldorf, Bavaria, Germany (@ Konrad Wothe/Getty images)

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• Next month, tens of thousands of people will gather in the Nevada desert to set fire to a huge wooden effigy.""Of course, there\s more to it than that
• Sitting around an outdoor fire might make you hungry for a decadent treat.""The name says it all
• Even in the 21st century, we could still stand to relearn a few caveman skills.""Take a crash course in fire building
• These people are celebrating summer in a region more famous for an autumn festival.""An appreciation for beer is recommended

Camel caravan through the Sahara Desert near Djanet, Algeria (@ Frans Lemmens/SuperStock)

Camel caravan through the Sahara Desert near Djanet, Algeria (@ Frans Lemmens/SuperStock)

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• The desert is more than harsh wind and shifting sand in this part of the world.""We\ve arranged a caravan just for you
• This country declared its independence from France 50 years ago today.""Where are people celebrating?
• A special, low-lactose treat is made here, and it\s receiving accolades around the world.""What food has a culture of its own?
• Desert and rocky mountains cover much of the southern portion of this country…""And yet it\s also the largest of all the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea

Manhattan Bridge and the Empire State Building illuminated with red, white, and blue lights in New York City, New York (@ age fotostock/SuperStock)

Manhattan Bridge and the Empire State Building illuminated with red, white, and blue lights in New York City, New York (@ age fotostock/SuperStock)

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• This centenarian span is actually the youngest of three suspension bridges crossing the lower East River.""For more than 100 years, she\s always been ready for her close-up
• How often do we get to celebrate a holiday smack-dab in the middle of the week?""Even the skyline looks like it\s celebrating today
• If you\re planning to watch tonight\s fireworks show from the window of a skyscraper…""Let\s hope this crew visited today
• The glitz and glitter of this town may be outshone by the painted sky tonight, but only briefly.""After all, this is the city that never sleeps

Storm clouds over the mountains of Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska (@ Ron Niebrugge/CorbisMotion)

Storm clouds over the mountains of Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska (@ Ron Niebrugge/CorbisMotion)

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• Just one road cuts through 6 million acres of preserved land here, and cars aren\t allowed beyond the first 15 miles.""So hike, bike, or take the bus to see these spectacular natural wonders
• If you find yourself shadowed by more than clouds, it might be caused by this looming presence.""People travel here from all over the world to climb “The High One”
• When exploring this wilderness, what do you do when you find yourself facing two inquisitive cubs and their mama bear?""You tell everyone to just chill
• The rolling panorama here is found within a mostly uninhabited region in the largest U.S. state.""Where will you find this park and preserve?

Eastern grey kangaroo in Murramarang National Park, New South Wales, Australia (@ Paul Souders/Corbis)

Eastern grey kangaroo in Murramarang National Park, New South Wales, Australia (@ Paul Souders/Corbis)

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• “Well, hello…”""Who, pray tell, is this cheeky bloke?
• With such a brazen gaze, this just has to be a male.""How can you be sure?
• Some Aussies consider these marsupials a nuisance, especially when they\re found hopping around cities and the backyards of suburbia.""Perhaps that\s why a group of these animals is called a…
• Where will you find chaps like this lazing about, along with plenty of koalas, kookaburras, and goannas?""Take a walkabout through their stomping grounds