Now you see it, soon you won’t. Visit these disappearing natural wonders now.
Say goodbye to these beautiful destinations before they are gone forever. Some major natural landmarks may disappear in your lifetime. While many areas change naturally over time, human activity and climate change also take their toll. Darwin’s Arch collapsed into the water after years of erosion, and Oregon’s Cape Kiwanda sandstone pedestal fell due to vandalism. Conservation measures can help protect some sites, but others may simply be destined to fade away. That means your time to visit these natural wonders is limited. Here are a few landmarks to see before they are gone for good.
Nothing beats floating in a picturesque swimming hole near a waterfall. Swimming pools simply can’t compare to the serenity found in natural swimming spots. While wild swimming can be fun, it’s important to make sure a swimming hole is safe before you jump in. Unfortunately, factors like pollution and currents can sometimes put swimmers in danger. Before diving into the water, keep yourself safe with these swimming hole safety tips.
How to tell if a swimming hole is safe
Many conditions affect whether or not a swimming hole is safe. Pollution may come to mind first when considering water safety — after all, no one wants to wade through sewage. In the United States, agencies often test the water at some swimming holes to ensure they are safe for swimming. Searching a swimming hole’s name online will likely return resources on whether or not the area is safe for swimming. If the internet returns no useful information, there are also some water testing kits you can buy to evaluate for yourself. Look for a kit with information on bacteria levels, as this is a helpful indicator for water safety.
Additionally, you can use your senses to help determine a body of water’s safety. Check for water with an oily sheen, strange smell, or dead fish — these can all point to polluted water. Even if an area’s water seems clean, exercise caution by not putting your head underwater, swimming after a heavy storm, or jumping in with open wounds.
Swimming hole safety tips
Aside from pollution, swimming holes can pose a few other dangers. Some safety tips, such as not swimming alone or under the influence, apply to all bodies of water but are occasionally forgotten in the excitement of wild swimming. Be mindful of basic swimming safety before dipping your toes in the water. First aid and rescue equipment is also good to keep on hand.
Safety rules specifically for swimming holes include keeping an eye on the weather and checking the water’s depth and speed. Deep waters can overwhelm even experienced swimmers, as can fast currents. Natural swimming spots often also host local wildlife, so keep an eye out for any creatures nearby. Avoid water surrounded by snakes and leeches, and check yourself for ticks after returning home after a swim.
Bees, butterflies, and birds flutter into the spotlight for Pollinator Week 2022, June 20-26. Begun by Pollinator Partnership and recognized by the U.S. Senate, National Pollinator Week highlights pollinators’ contributions to keeping ecosystems healthy.
By spreading pollen between plants, pollinators help plants reproduce. This essential service supports “87 of the leading food crops worldwide,” according to a report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Pollinator Week gives people the chance to appreciate pollinators for performing such an important task. For inspiration on how you can take action this Pollinator Week, visit Pollinator Partnership, or explore the list of options below!
Explore the National Park Service’s Juneteenth reenactment events at the Booker T. Washington National Monument.
Since 1866, Juneteenth (June 19) has been a day to honor the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans. Finally recognized as a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, Juneteenth is a time for many to reflect on history and celebrate freedom. How do people celebrate this holiday? While there are many Juneteenth traditions (such as participating in parades and enjoying delicious food), the National Park Service has a history of hosting Juneteenth reenactment events at Booker T. Washington National Monument in Hardy, VA. At these reenactments, volunteers dress up in historical outfits and recreate the day news of the Emancipation Proclamation was spread in 1865. Check out the gallery below to see past years’ reenactments.
It’s time for you to learn the truth about heat lightning.
When a flash of light crackles across the sky on a hot day, many people call it heat lightning. Thought to occur due to high temperatures and humidity rather than a storm, heat lightning may be one of the most misunderstood weather phenomena. Despite this evocative term’s popularity, there is actually no such thing as heat lightning.
What is heat lightning?
As Weather.com explains, “Many people believe heat lightning is produced by hot and humid conditions, lighting up the night sky without any rain or thunder in the immediate area. This theory is completely false, and heat lightning does not actually exist.”
(Liza Daly).
While lightning caused solely by heat and humidity doesn’t exist, the lightning many people see on hot days is real. When clouds gather in the distance, people can sometimes spot lightning before a storm is close enough for them to hear thunder. Some storms are visible from about 100 miles away, but most people can only hear thunder when a storm is within 10-15 miles of their location. This disconnect may be the origin of theories about heat lightning.
(Liza Daly).
According to Farmers’ Almanac, “when the sky is hazy, as is quite typical on warm, summer nights, the light from intense thunderstorms as far away as 100 miles can be reflected off a layer of haze and up into the night sky. And that’s why you tend to see heat lightning as just a diffuse flash or flicker.”
(Mohd Fazlin Mohd Effendy Ooi).
Heat lightning may also be associated with dry thunderstorms. However, Treehugger is quick to clarify this misconception. “Heat lightning, or “dry lightning” as it is sometimes called, shouldn’t be confused with dry thunderstorms, as these two are different phenomena,” writes Tiffany Means via Treehugger. “In reality, dry lightning is associated with a rainstorm, the rain is just too distant to be visible. Dry thunderstorms produce thunder, lightning, and precipitation, but are called “dry” because their rainfall evaporates before reaching the ground.”
