This Week's Most Frequently Viewed Images

Humpback whale breaching, near Molokai, Hawaii. Megaptera novaeangliae. It is suspected the breaching often has a communicative purpose which depends on the behavioral context of the moment.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 00205  

Detail within the Mandelbrot set fractal. This detail is found by zooming in on the overall Mandelbrot set image, finding edges and buds with interesting features. Fractals are complex geometric shapes that exhibit repeating patterns typified by self-similarity, or the tendency for the details of a shape to appear similar to the shape itself. Often these shapes resemble patterns occurring naturally in the physical world, such as spiraling leaves, seemingly random coastlines, erosion and liquid waves. Fractals are generated through surprisingly simple underlying mathematical expressions, producing subtle and surprising patterns. The basic iterative expression for the Mandelbrot set is z = z-squared + c, operating in the complex (real, imaginary) number set.
Species: Mandelbrot fractal, Mandelbrot set
Image ID: 10412  

The General Sherman Sequoia tree is the largest (most massive) living thing on earth, standing over 275 feet tall with a 36 diameter and 102 circumference at its base. Its volume is over 53,000 cubic feet. It is estimated to be 2300 to 2700 years old.
Species: Giant sequoia tree, Sequoiadendron giganteum
Location: Giant Forest, Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park, California
Image ID: 09872  

Aerial Photo of Avalon and Catalina Island.
Location: Avalon, California
Image ID: 38088  

Blue whale underwater closeup photo. This picture of a blue whale, the largest animal ever to inhabit earth, shows it swimming through the open ocean, a rare underwater view. Since this blue whale was approximately 80-90' long and just a few feet from the camera, an extremely wide lens was used to photograph the entire enormous whale.
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Location: California
Image ID: 27299  

Tunnel view with El Capitan and Bridalveil Falls, in spring, Yosemite National Park.
Location: Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 36373  

Saint Peter's Basilica interior, Vatican City.
Location: Vatican City, Rome, Italy
Image ID: 35552  

Ocean sunfish and freediving photographer, open ocean.
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 03325  

California sea lions at La Jolla Cove, San Diego.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38662  

Laguna Beach Coastline including Views South to Three Arch Bay, Aerial Photo.
Location: Laguna Beach, California
Image ID: 38082  

Yosemite Valley Tunnel View, Storm clouds at sunset, Yosemite National Park.
Location: Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 34542  
Panorama dimensions: 7653 x 12541

Torrey Pines State Beach at Sunset, La Jolla, Mount Soledad and Blacks Beach in the distance.
Location: Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California
Image ID: 35847  

Manhattan Beach Pier at sunset.
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Image ID: 29144  

Dead Horse Point Overlook, with the Colorado River flowing 2,000 feet below. 300 million years of erosion has carved the expansive canyons, cliffs and walls below and surrounding Deadhorse Point.
Location: Deadhorse Point State Park, Utah
Image ID: 18091  

Paradise Park Visitor Center.
Location: Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Image ID: 13909  

Factory Butte at sunrise. An exceptional example of a solitary butte surrounded by dramatically eroded badlands, Factory Butte stands alone on the San Rafael Swell.
Location: Factory Butte, Hanksville, Utah
Image ID: 38054  

Torrey Pines Cliffs and Pacific Ocean, Razor Point view to La Jolla, San Diego, California.
Location: Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California
Image ID: 28483  

PETCO Park, an open-air stadium in downtown San Diego, home of the San Diego Padres baseball club. Opened in 2004, it has a seating capacity of approximately 42000.
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 22468  

The Bellagio Hotel fountains light up the reflection pool as the half-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas rises above them, at night.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Image ID: 20559  

Lightbulb tunicates.
Species: Lightbulb tunicate, Clavelina huntsmani
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 07022  

Oceanside Pier at sunset, clouds and palm trees with a brilliant sky at dusk.
Location: Oceanside Pier, California
Image ID: 27612  

Adult male humpback whale singing, suspended motionless underwater. Only male humpbacks have been observed singing. All humpbacks in the North Pacific sing the same whale song each year, and the song changes slightly from one year to the next.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 02796  

Morro Rock and Morro Bay.
Location: Morro Bay, California
Image ID: 06435  

Torrey Pines Cliffs and Pacific Ocean, Razor Point view to La Jolla, San Diego, California.
Location: Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California
Image ID: 28489  

Torrey Pines State Beach at Sunset, La Jolla, Mount Soledad and Blacks Beach in the distance.
Location: Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California
Image ID: 38220  

Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Colors, Asheville, North Carolina.
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Image ID: 34650  

A hiker admiring the striated walls and dramatic light within Antelope Canyon, a deep narrow slot canyon formed by water and wind erosion.
Location: Navajo Tribal Lands, Page, Arizona
Image ID: 18007  

Torrey Pines State Beach at Sunset, La Jolla, Mount Soledad and Blacks Beach in the distance.
Location: Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California
Image ID: 35064  

Young hikers are dwarfed by the trunk of an enormous Sequoia tree.
Species: Giant sequoia tree, Sequoiadendron giganteum
Location: Giant Forest, Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park, California
Image ID: 09879