U.S. Department of the Interior

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument in Arizona preserves a story of destruction and renewal that was written in the landscape over 1,000 years ago.

In the immediate aftermath of the eruption, the area around Sunset Crater volcano was no longer farmable. People relocated to nearby Walnut Canyon and Wupatki, where thinner layers of ash and cinders helped the soil hold precious moisture that benefited crops. Agriculture and trade flourished for about 100 years before people moved on again.

The history and stories preserved at the monument and with the descendants that once lived there teach us how nature and humankind affect each other and how rebirth and renewal happen in the wake of disaster.

Photo by Jim Kiser

52 years of our changing planet through the eyes of Landsat! 🌎

Since 1972, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat satellites have provided scientists and policymakers with the data they need to tackle problems crucial to everyday life on our planet, including water use, wildfire impacts, glacier retreat and more.

Learn more: https://www.usgs.gov/landsat-missions/landsat-satellite-missions

Description: Icelandic Tiger - This coast resembles a tiger's head with stripes of orange, black and white. The “mouth” is the great Eyjafjorour, a deep fjord.

Did someone say road trip?

When heading south from Hanksville, Utah, highway travelers bisect the remote Henry Mountains — a place so remote it was the last mountain range in the contiguous United States to be mapped. The 11,000-foot forested peaks of the main mountain range rise to the west, while two distinctive summits, Mount Ellsworth and Mount Holmes, jut skyward from the rolling red sandstone mesas to the east.

Known as the “Little Rockies,” these peaks are designated as a National Natural Landmark for their geological significance. The peaks also provide habitat for desert bighorn sheep and numerous birds of prey.

Photo by Bob Wick / Bureau of Land Management

Conservation is a vital part of the Bureau of Reclamation's water management and power generation across the West.

Learn more about their collaborative work which often helps address threatened or endangered species, habitat recovery and invasive species: https://usbr.gov/conservation

“I told you no photos!” 📷

Mountain lion 1, camera 0. This young cougar thought the camera was a fun new toy. Good thing Bandelier National Monument had two, so they could capture this cute moment.

Photo by Hari Viswanathan

Mid-July at Denali National Park and Preserve means the bright and blazing fireweed is blooming! There's no question that these iconic stars of summer are gorgeous.

A resilient plant that thrives across Alaska, it’s notoriously associated with fire landscapes since it quickly takes over disturbed areas, including fire scars and logged lands.

Photo by Zachary Tyszkiewicz

May you head into the weekend with the flash and flair of the painted bunting!

Males sport some of the most vibrant colors of any North American bird. These majestic migratory birds can be spotted in Florida and other parts of the South.

Photo at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge by Steve Sinclair

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has accelerated and expanded our efforts to identify areas of the country with potential for critical minerals that power everything from household appliances and electronics to low-carbon energy technologies like batteries and wind turbines.

Photo by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

The rosy maple moth is a beautiful silk moth distinguishable by its vibrant pink and yellow color. These insect rockstars live in deciduous forests with abundant maple trees in the eastern United States.

Have you ever seen these pink lemonade-hued moths in the wild?

Photo at Voyageurs National Park by Beverly Fry / NPS

Blackwell School National Historic Site has been formally established as the nation’s newest national park. For 56 years, the Blackwell School educated the Mexican and Mexican American children of Marfa, Texas. The designation is an important step in telling a more diverse and inclusive history of the Mexican American experience. Today, the Blackwell School consists of the original 1909 adobe schoolhouse and a smaller 1927 classroom building known as the Band Hall. The buildings contain photographs, memorabilia, and interpretive panels that feature quotes and stories from students and teachers.

Today’s announcement is the result of support and contributions from the Blackwell School Alliance, National Parks Conservation Association, National Park Foundation, Marfa Independent School District, and the City of Marfa. The site is currently open to the public with limited hours and services. The Blackwell School Alliance, a local non-profit founded by Blackwell School alumni, is partnering with the National Park Service to provide visitor services at the site.

Visit www.nps.gov/blsc to learn more about the park.

Image: Rows of wooden school desks inside the Blackwell School building. NPS/TVillareal

Before and after hurricanes, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement employees inspect offshore facilities and issue regulatory guidance to impacted oil and gas operators before they can bring production back online to keep workers and infrastructure safe.

The endangered Florida panther has made a long journey back from the brink of extinction. The population has rebounded from an estimated low of 10 animals to about 200 animals since it was put on the first Endangered species list fifty years ago.

Wildlife crossings and conservation corridors help animals by allowing them to safely move between habitats and avoid car collisions. The Florida panther is one species for which wildlife crossings offer a pathway for survival.

Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Happy birthday, Bureau of Land Management!

For 78 years, the Bureau of Land Management has helped steward the health, diversity and productivity of almost 250 million acres of public lands and ensured that all Americans can enjoy them for future generations.

Photo at Alabama Hills National Scenic Area by Bob Wick

Millions of Americans across the country live within just one mile from an abandoned coal mine or an orphaned oil and gas well. These sites are environmental hazards and pollute backyards, recreation areas and community spaces.

In June, Interior announced $127 million to clean up legacy pollution in Alaska, Arizona, Indiana, New York and Ohio. With this funding, the five states will plug orphaned oil and gas wells, address environmental and safety hazards and create good-paying jobs in their communities. Learn more: https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/biden-harris-administration-announces-additional-127-million-investing-america-agenda

Towering dunes, incredible recreational opportunities and some of the darkest skies in the country await visitors at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan.

Home to more than 65 miles of pristine sand, the park offers incredible opportunities to watch the sunset, the Milky Way and occasionally the northern lights.

Photo by Michele Aucello

Summer wildflowers are bringing pops of color off Beartooth Pass in Montana.

Have a great weekend!

Photo by Jacob W. Frank / Yellowstone National Park

The awe-inspiring North Fork American Wild and Scenic River in California is known for its thrilling whitewater, challenging hiking trails, excellent fishing, abundant wildlife and dramatic scenery.

The watershed is a popular recreation designation. Gorge scrambling is the most popular activity, followed by hiking, fishing and boating. Hikers and fishing enthusiasts can choose from a number of trails to access the river canyon, most of which drop steeply from the canyon rim down to the water.

Photo by Bob Wick / Bureau of Land Management

In June, Secretary Deb Haaland announced the designation of four new national recreation trails, adding more than 33 miles to the National Trails System. The newly designated trails in Oregon, Texas, Utah and West Virginia join a network of more than 1,300 existing national recreation trails, which can be found in every state, D.C. and Puerto Rico.

These trails support local economies and provide meaningful opportunities for outdoor recreation in line with the “America the Beautiful” initiative.

Photo of the newly designated Buxton Trestle in Oregon by NPS

With drought and dry conditions occurring in many parts of the nation, it's important to "Know Before You Go" when planning a trip to your favorite public lands. Check official websites for wildfire updates and burn restrictions for campfires.

Well, hello furry friend! Abert's squirrels are tassel-eared, tree-loving creatures that are found in ponderosa pine forests across the four corners region of the Southwest.

With no apparent fear of heights, they can often be seen high in trees scurrying from branch to branch looking for a cone to snack on.

Photo at Bandelier National Monument by Lawrence Rafter

The Great American Outdoors Act is helping address maintenance backlogs at national parks, wildlife refuges and recreation areas while supporting tens of thousands of jobs and contributing billions of dollars to local economies.

From renovating the Burns Junction Fire Station housing facility in Colorado (pictured) to modernizing the Visitor Center and improving recreational access at Seney National Wildlife Refuge in Michigan, the Great American Outdoors Act is helping Interior tackle big jobs.

Photo by Bureau of Land Management

Interior is working to protect the health and productivity of our public lands from the pressures of degrading landscapes, wildfires and drought that will benefit people, wildlife and local economies for generations to come.

Through our Restoration and Resilience Framework and investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Interior is creating jobs in conservation, taking care of our Earth and empowering collaboration.

Learn more:https://www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/interior-department-to-take-action-to-restore-lands-and-waters.pdf

Photo by Alan Nyiri

Easy like Sunday morning!

This burrowing owl family is discussing the agenda for the day. These small and unusual owls aren’t like most other owls – burrowing owls are active during the day, nest in underground burrows and spend most of their time on the ground or on low perches.

To hunt food, they swoop down from a perch, hover over fields or walk and run along the ground, clutching their prey in their talons.

Photo at Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge by Paulette Donnellon

We’re fawning over all the young mule deer at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado. Mule deer fawns conceal themselves in tall grass or wooded areas throughout the park.

Their moms often maintain a distance from their babies in order to prevent drawing attention, but they visit several times per day to nurse. If you see a fawn, please give it space and remember to use safe wildlife viewing techniques. It is best to simply leave the area to make the fawn and doe more comfortable. Please do your part to keep wildlife safe. They are very deer to us.

Photo by D. Goodman / NPS