Just like every other year since the beginning of time, Nature really put on a show for us in 2015! We gathered together 12 of our favorite natural moments from the year — moments that demonstrate the wonder, beauty, and fun of the great outdoors. From sunrises to a dancing elk, this collection will remind you of how wonderfully alive the Earth is. Take a few minutes to explore these 12, and feel free to add your own "Wow!" moment.
1. Sunrise at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Photo by Santosh Kanthety.
"Good morning" doesnt quite capture the view when dawn's first light hits the fall colors of the Great Smokies. "Awesome Morning" or "Morning Without Compare" is more like it!
2. The Baby Squirrels at President's Park (White House)
NPS photo
Remember back in July when NPS employees discovered these newborn squirrels in a removed tree limb? Go ahead, relive those "awwww" moments.
3. Spraying Spotted Skunk at Saguaro National Park
NPS video/Saguaro NP
Did you know that a spotted skunk stands on its front legs before spraying? We didn't. Wow. Just wow.
4. Fresh snow in Rocky Mountain National Park
NPS photo/Rocky Mountain NP
"Oh, the silent majesty of a winter's morn. The clean, cool chill of the holiday air." Just try to watch this video only once.
5. The Sea Otters in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Photo by Becky King
Fur hunters nearly wiped out sea otters in the North Pacific, but thanks to conservation efforts, more than 3,000 now make their home in Glacier Bay. Boy, are we glad about that!
6. Dancing Elk at Grand Canyon National Park
Video by Diane Kirkendall
Dancing is a fun and easy way to exercise, and this young elk has some sweet moves. This could–no, should– be the next dance craze.
7. Basking shark at Channel Islands National Park
NPS video/Channel Islands NP
You might think that the second largest living fish (a basking shark, above) would be easy to spot. When divers from Channel Islands National Park's Kelp Forest Monitoring Program saw this shark in June, it was the first time since 1991! Wowza!
8. Rainbow at Badlands National Park
NPS photo
Oh, wow! A rainbow, all the way across the sky. And at Badlands National Park. Thanks, nature.
9. Bobcat in Saguaro at Organ Pipe National Park
NPS photo
This bobcat hiding in saguaro fills us with wonder. Like, why did the bobcat climb the saguaro? Did it hurt? How will it get down? Do thorns go through bobcat fur? So much wonder.
10. 2015 BioBlitz in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
NPS photo
The Youth Ambassadors performing the BioBlitz Dance certainly have something to celebrate. During the annual biodiversity inventory, participants counted 416 species, including 22 species not previously recorded in the park. Wow, that's a lot of life!
11. BFFs in Estes Park, Colo.
Video by Steve and Vicky Johnsen/YMCA of the Rockies
Nothing compares to a rockin' game of tag with your bestie. Even if she's a different species.
12. Starry, starry night at Canyonlands National Park
Image by Dan Duriscoe.
Boom. The International Dark-Sky Association granted Gold-Tier International Dark Sky Park status to Canyonlands in 2015. Good night, moon. And stars. And Milky Way.
Thanks, 2015!
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Last updated: April 6, 2016