Climbers ascend National Champion Douglas fir

Environment

Climbing the Tallest Trees

A select group of adventurers climb the world’s tallest trees to learn more about the wildlife that lives on the highest branches
By Peter Beland

Bar pilots risk their life to guide ships

Steering Ships Through a Treacherous Waterway

Braving storms with 20-foot seas, an elite group of ship pilots steers through one of the world's most treacherous waterways—the mouth of the Columbia River
By Matt Jenkins

80-square-mile Hobet 21 mine near Danville, West Virginia

Mining the Mountains

Explosives and giant machines are destroying Appalachian peaks to obtain coal. In a tiny West Virginia town, residents and the industry fight over a mountain's fate
By John McQuaid

Aspen trees

What's Killing the Aspen?

The signature tree of the Rockies is in trouble
By Michelle Nijhuis

Teal sea glass

Sea Glass: The Search on the Shore

Part of the sea glass hunting elite, Nancy and Richard LaMotte are finding the treasures they covet harder to come by
By Abigail Tucker

Most Popular

Strange Plants

<strong>Name:</strong> Resurrection fern (<em>Selaginella</em> <em>lepidophylla</em>)<br> <strong>Habitat:</strong> Deserts of Mexico and the southwestern United States<br> <strong>Strange Factor:</strong> During frequent droughts, it folds up its stems into a tight ball and goes into a state of dormancy that can last for years. When the rains return, the plant

Earthly Wonders

A slideshow of the world's strangest plants

National Parks

<strong>Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska</strong><br> The dramatic tidewater glaciers that define this 3.2-million-acre park are remnants of the Little Ice Age that began about 4,000 years ago. With 16 active glaciers, Glacier Bay is the park

Off the Beaten Path

Experience the rich diversity of America's national parks

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In The Magazine

July 2009 Issue Cover

July 2009

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Photo Essay

The Magellanic Penguins of Punta Tombo

Explore photos from Eric Wagner's experience with the Magellanic penguins of Punta Tombo