Flagstaff Mountain, Colorado

Flagstaff Mountain is a foothill on the eastern flank of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America.

Plymouth Colony

Plymouth Colony, America's first permanent Puritan settlement, was established by English Separatist Puritans in December 1620. The Pilgrims left England to seek religious freedom, or simply to find a better life. After a period in Holland, they set sail from Plymouth, England, on Sept. 16, 1620, aboard the Mayflower, its 102 passengers spending 65 days at sea. Passengers, now known as the Pilgrim Fathers, included leader William Brewster; John Carver, Edward Winslow, and William Bradford, early governors of Plymouth Colony; John Alden, assistant governor; and Myles Standish, a professional soldier and military advisor. The Mayflower dropped anchor near present-day Provincetown on Nov. 21, 1620, and 41 male passengers signed the Mayflower Compact, an agreement to enact "just and equal laws for the general good of the colony." The Pilgrims finally landed at the site of present-day Plymouth, Mass., on Dec. 26, 1620.

Amazon Fish

Arapaima, also known as “pirarucu” or “paiche,” are gigantic carnivorous fish that live in the Amazon and surrounding lakes. Encased in armored scales, they think nothing of living in piranha-infested waters—and they are pretty effective predators themselves, feeding on fish and the occasional bird. Arapaima tend to stay close to the surface, because they need to breathe surface air in addition to taking in oxygen through their gills, and make a distinctive coughing sound when they emerge for air. They can reach 2.7 meters (nine feet) in length and weigh up to 90 kilograms (200 lbs). These fish are so vicious that even their tongue has teeth.

Slovenian Alps

The Julian Alps (Slovene: Julijske Alpe, Italian: Alpi Giulie) are a mountain range of the Southern Limestone Alps that stretch from northeastern Italy to Slovenia, where they rise to 2,864 m at Mount Triglav, the highest peak in Slovenia and of the former Yugoslavia.A view of the Soča and the upper Sava river valleys spreads below Mount Triglav, Slovenia’s highest mountain. Lying between the two rivers is Triglav National Park, which protects numerous endemic animal and plant species in a region of high rocky mountains, deeply cut river gorges, high-mountain karst shafts, and attractive low mountains as well as the traditions of the once difficult life of mountain farmers and alpine dairymen.

Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii, commonly called the Big Island, is the largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago in the Central Pacific. Its diverse terrain spans colored-sand beaches at Papakolea (green) and Punalu’u (black) to lush rainforest and, within Volcanoes National Park, 2 active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Hapuna Beach and Kahaluu Beach Park in the west are known for snorkeling and water sports.

Swiss Alps

Swiss Alps represents a major natural feature of the country and is, alongside with the Swiss Plateau and the Swiss portion of the Jura Mountains, one of its three main physiographic regions. The Alps cover 65% of Switzerland's surface area (41,285 km²), making it one of the most alpine countries. Despite the fact that Switzerland covers only 14% of the Alps total area (192,753 km²), many alpine four-thousanders (48 of 82) are located in the Swiss Alps and practically all of the remaining few are within 20 km of the country's border. The glaciers of the Swiss Alps cover an area of 1220 km² (3% of the Swiss territory), representing 44% of the total glaciated area in the Alps (2800 km²). The Swiss Alps are situated south of the Swiss Plateau and north of the national border. The limit between the Alps and the plateau runs from Vevey on the shores of Lake Geneva to Rorschach on the shores of Lake Constance, passing close to the cities of Thun and Lucerne.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Ecuador to the south of Cocos Island.
All trails seem to lead to waterfalls, misty crater lakes or jungle-fringed, deserted beaches. Explored by horseback, foot or kayak, Costa Rica is a tropical choose-your-own-adventure.

Hiking in Patagonia

The south of Chile and Argentina is a hiker’s dream. The melange of craggy mountains crowned with glaciers and glistening with waterfalls, scrubland dotted with pale glacial lakes, flowering meadows, marshlands, and windblown cliffs that skirt the Magellan Strait present countless opportunities for exploration on foot.

Belize

Belize is a country on the eastern coast of Central America. It is the only country in Central America whose official language is English, though Belizean Creole and Spanish are also commonly spoken..In Belize you can explore unspoiled Caribbean islands, reefs and tropical rainforests with world-class scuba diving, sailing, fishing, hiking, Maya sites.

Fiji Island

Fiji Islands is a Melanesian country in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand and consists of an archipelago that includes 332 islands, a handful of which make up most of the land area, and approximately 110 of which are inhabited.
Fiji is the product of volcanic mountains and warm tropical waters. Its majestic and ever-varied coral reefs today draw tourists from around the world.

Mountain ranges of Burma

Myanmar is located in Southeast Asia, bordered by India and Bangladesh in the northwest, China in the northeast, Laos in the east, Thailand in the east and southeast, and the Indian Ocean to the south and the west.Burma has plenty of wonders for the eye--sinuous, life-giving rivers, lush mountain forests, and intricately-drawn cities.North Myanmar is a Asian treasure trove, a pristine environment with the only mountain ranges with eternal snow and icy glaciers.

Peruvian Andes

The Andes is the longest continental mountain range in the world. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America.The Andes extend from north to south through seven South American countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.Stone Age Shelter Discovered in Peru Andes is the Oldest High-Altitude Settlement in the World.Many visitors to South America choose Andes Mountains Peru vacations as their first choice, and for good reason. Besides being stunningly beautiful, the Andes Mountains in Peru provide a myriad of attractions, from historical ruins, to charming mountain towns. Many Andes Mountains South America natives still dress in traditional garments, and in Peru, the descendants of the mighty Inca are among the most colorful people you will find anywhere on the planet. The bulk of Andes Mountains Peru vacations find their base in the tourist haven city of Cusco. From Cusco, you can hike the Inca Trail, take a train to Machu Picchu, visit the Sacred Valley and even descend into the Amazon Jungle.

Grand Canyon

Every year, a staggering five million people flock to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon's sweeping views, hike its trails, and hop on a mule for a trip through the vast canyon.With its ever-changing and dramatic scenery of enormous proportions, the Grand Canyon is one of the world’s most spectacular landscapes. Its pine and fir forests, painted deserts, sandstone canyons, mesas and plateaus, volcanic and geologic features, the Colorado River, perennial streams, and waterfalls breathtakingly combine to form one of Earth’s greatest landmarks. The only one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World to be located in North America. It the most visited national park in the United States, 277 MILES FULL OF SUPERLATIVE BEAUTY!

Sacred Land of Japan

Shinto/Buddhist pilgrimage trail through forest in the Kii Mountains of Japan. 15 percent of the world's surface is “sacred land”. Kumano sacred forest trails were and are still used for the pilgrimage to the sacred site "Kumano Sanzan."

Winter Olympic Games

The Winter Olympic Games is a major international sporting event that occurs once every four years. The first Winter Olympics, the 1924 Winter Olympics, were held in Chamonix, France. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating.
The 2014 Winter Olympics, officially the XXII Olympic Winter Games, or the 22nd Winter Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event currently being held in Sochi, Russia. Scheduled for 7–23 February 2014,

Mission to Mars

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second smallest planet in the Solar System, after Mercury. Named after the Roman god of war, it is often described as the "Red Planet" because the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance.[14] Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphere, having surface features reminiscent both of the impact craters of the Moon and the volcanoes, valleys, deserts, and polar ice caps of Earth. The rotational period and seasonal cycles of Mars are likewise similar to those of Earth, as is the tilt that produces the seasons.
Since 6 August 2012, there have been two scientific rovers on the surface of Mars beaming signals back to Earth (Opportunity of the Mars Exploration Rover mission, and Curiosity of the Mars Science Laboratory mission), and three orbiters currently surveying the planet: Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Two orbiters launched in November 2013, Mars Orbiter Mission and MAVEN, are currently on their way to Mars.

NGSE Conservation in Action

Belize: Oceans & Underwater Exploration:Blanketed with thick jungle and edged by the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, Belize is a small country with extraordinary biodiversity and great natural beauty. Its rich marine life makes it a perfect laboratory for learning about our planet’s amazing ocean habitats and for exploring ways to preserve them for future generations - See more at: http://ngstudentexpeditions.com/conservation-in-action

NG Student Expeditions

Calling all high school students! We're thrilled to announce the kick-off of this year's Student Photo Contest. The challenge: to convey through an original photo and story a defining moment that demonstrates what discovery, exploration, or adventure means to you. The winner will participate in a photography workshop of his or her choice next summer—choose between photogenic destinations likeLondon, Paris, San Francisco, or Prague!

Maya Carvings

An ancient stucco frieze recently unearthed in the buried Maya city of Holmul in the Peten region of Guatemala. Sunlight from a tunnel entrance highlights the carved legs of a ruler sitting atop the head of a Maya mountain spirit.

Best Hike : Tour du Mont Blanc, France, Italy, and Switzerland

Circling Mont Blanc—the rooftop of Western Europe—is one of the most special hiking experiences in the world. You travel through three different countries (France, Italy, Switzerland) and over several mountain passes with some of Europe’s most dramatic glaciers on display. You can soak it in and take your time over seven to ten days or fast pack in three days. No matter how you choose to do it, it is an adventure of a lifetime!