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Today is apparently National Nature Photography Day, according to the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA). We’re big fans of the natural world here at PopSci, because from the plains to the mountains, costal beaches to inland lakes, we find that nature never fails to inspire, motivate, and awe us.

A little over 30 years ago, the Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson coined the term Biophilia. Biophilia is a theory to explain what Wilson saw as an innate human tendency to search out connections with nature and other forms of life. Biophilia is why we jazz up our offices with plants, bring cats and dogs into our homes, and spend hours puttering around the garden. It’s why we’ll pay more for a hotel room with ocean views, and why a neighborhood with big leafy trees seems more welcoming than an endless sea of concrete.

Studies are increasingly showing that spending time in the natural world isn’t just fun—it’s also good for us. Time spent outdoors has been linked to everything from improving eye development in children, to regulating mood, to increasing fitness, to even helping us heal more quickly after getting sick.

Of course, unless you actually work outside (as a farmer, for example, or perhaps a park ranger), we know just how hard it can be to make it to the great outdoors. The average American spends only seven percent their time in the open air. We spend 87 percent of our time indoors; the remaining 6 percent in cars. National Nature Photography Day is a lovely reminder to get out into nature, and a wonderful time to share some photos of our favorite experiences with you.

So in honor of National Photography day, here are some of the PopSci staff’s favorite photos—ones we’ve taken ourselves during adventures in the natural world. And we want to see your gorgeous nature photos, too. Tag them on Instagram and Twitter with #PopSciLovesNature and we’ll feature our favorites on the site. Note: by using our hashtag, you’re giving us the right to repost your images on our social channels or website.

cane toad
A cane toad in the Peruvian Amazon. Tom McNamara
Bison
Bison in Yellowstone. Tom McNamara

bear cub
A black bear cub stopped by to say hello in the Berkshires last summer. We stayed inside and kept our distance. Mary Beth Griggs
North Carolina
North Carolina. Mary Beth Griggs
dinosaur
Dinosaur spotting! Mary Beth Griggs

Peacocks in the city
Sometimes, the natural world comes to us—as is the case with peacocks in New York City, which roam the grounds of St. John the Divine Church. Russ Smith
Doe
Doe, a deer. Russ Smith
geese
A gaggle of geese. Russ Smith

alaskan railroad
View from the Alaskan railroad—it was an amazing trip! Stan Horaczek
Blue jay
A serene Blue Jay. Stan Horaczek
Thistle
A simple thistle can be so lovely. Stan Horaczek
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George the cat
George helps with gardening (when he’s not knocking Sarah’s flower pots off of high shelves). Sarah Fecht
crete
Crete, Greece. Sarah Fecht
Morocco
Morocco. Sarah Fecht
Stream
Robert Treman state park in Ithaca, New York. Ithaca, as they say, is gorges. Thomas Payne
Camp grill
There’s nothing like camping to get you close to nature… Thomas Payne
Sunset
…though a sunset can’t really be beat, either. Thomas Payne
Soda Dam
Soda Dam is visible right next to Highway 4 in New Mexico. It’s made of calcium deposits, and is still growing to this day. Kelsey D. Atherton
Albuquerque sunset with moon
An Albuquerque sunset, under the moon. Kelsey D. Atherton
Sandia Mountains
Another stunning Albuquerque sunset with the Sandia Mountains visible. Kelsey D. Atherton
Crested Butte
One friendly squirrel (who really wanted my trail mix) in Crested Butte, Colorado. Claire Maldarelli
El Arbo del Tule
El Adbo del Tule in Oaxaca, Mexico. Claire Maldarelli
PCH
View from the Pacific Coast Highway. Peter Sucheski
PCH
Another shot from PCH. Peter Sucheski
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Woodstock, NY
Snow covered trees in Woodstock, NY. Billy Cadden
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Duck Franklin #duckswithdoos #presidents

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Arizona
Fonts Point Anza Borrego Desert Cassidy Mayeda
Barrel Cactus
Barrel Cactus Cassidy Mayeda
Mount Hood
Mount Hood, Oregon Corinne Iozzio
Jokulsarlon glacier
Iceland’s Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is a place where you can fall in love with ice over and over again. Kendra Pierre-Louis
Cayman Islands
Stingray in the Cayman Island’s Kendra Pierre-Louis
Green iguana
Green iguana, Grand Cayman Kendra Pierre-Louis
Connecticut Pond
A pond in Connecticut. Mallory Johns
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMcGRO0AU-G/
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Go take a long walk off a short plank.

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Flower
Flower in Brazil Rob Verger
New Hampshire
My family vacations in this part of New Hampshire every year. Sara Chodosh
Yosemite mountains
Yosemite Sara Chodosh
Rattlesnake Mountain
Rattlesnake Mountain Sara Chodosh
Cuilcagh Mountain
Cuilcagh Mountain trail in Northern Ireland Sophie Bushwick
Cuilcagh
Different view of the Cuilcagh Mountain Trail Sophie Bushwick