Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Explore our planet through photography and imagery, including climate change and water all the way back to the 1800s when the USGS was surveying the country by horse and buggy.
High resolution mass spectrometer at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center. Any display of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
High resolution mass spectrometer at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center. Any display of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Lees Ferry streamgage and cableway downstream on the Colorado River, Arizona
Lees Ferry streamgage and cableway downstream on the Colorado River, Arizona
Photomicrograph from a raccoon (Procyon lotor) found sick and euthanized in Texas, US. (A) A cluster of schistosome ova are present in the pancreas. Ova are thin-shelled and are not operculated. Each viable egg contains a miracidium (arrows). The ova are surrounded by infiltrates of eosinophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes. H&E stain.
Photomicrograph from a raccoon (Procyon lotor) found sick and euthanized in Texas, US. (A) A cluster of schistosome ova are present in the pancreas. Ova are thin-shelled and are not operculated. Each viable egg contains a miracidium (arrows). The ova are surrounded by infiltrates of eosinophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes. H&E stain.
The United States is developing renewable energy resources, especially solar, at a rapid rate.
The United States is developing renewable energy resources, especially solar, at a rapid rate.
USGS scientist standing near the high-resolution mass spectrometer at the U.S. Geological Survey Eastern Ecological Science Center. The instrument will be used for analyses of PFAS in plasma and tissue samples. Any display of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
USGS scientist standing near the high-resolution mass spectrometer at the U.S. Geological Survey Eastern Ecological Science Center. The instrument will be used for analyses of PFAS in plasma and tissue samples. Any display of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
At left, a map of select recent volcanoes and volcanic areas in Canada (volcano location data from: Global GIS: volcanoes of the world; volcano basic data. [Shapefile]. American Geological Institute.
At left, a map of select recent volcanoes and volcanic areas in Canada (volcano location data from: Global GIS: volcanoes of the world; volcano basic data. [Shapefile]. American Geological Institute.
Image of a tidally restricted wetland in the Herring River Estuary, Cape Cod, MA
Image of a tidally restricted wetland in the Herring River Estuary, Cape Cod, MA
Ground level view of debris covering the eastbound lane of I-70 following the June 26-27, 2021, storms. The green sign in the background indicating Milepost 120 is mostly buried by mud.
Ground level view of debris covering the eastbound lane of I-70 following the June 26-27, 2021, storms. The green sign in the background indicating Milepost 120 is mostly buried by mud.
Photo Contest Winner | July 2021 | Where We Work
Paper mill reservoir in the Black River Valley, western Adirondacks, near Lyonsdale, New York
Photo Contest Winner | July 2021 | Where We Work
Paper mill reservoir in the Black River Valley, western Adirondacks, near Lyonsdale, New York
Blue-tinged gases are seen above the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater in this image taken from the southwest rim on June 25, 2021, at 12:37 p.m. HST.
Blue-tinged gases are seen above the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater in this image taken from the southwest rim on June 25, 2021, at 12:37 p.m. HST.
Photo Contest Winner | July 2021 | Honorable Mention 2
Mark Jones taking a measurement in Danville, Pennsylvania
Photo Contest Winner | July 2021 | Honorable Mention 2
Mark Jones taking a measurement in Danville, Pennsylvania
LSPIV Install on the Hudson River, New York
LSPIV Install on the Hudson River, New York
Photo Contest Winner | July 2021 | People
Jean Self-Trail and Laurel Bybell in Prince Georges County, Maryland
Photo Contest Winner | July 2021 | People
Jean Self-Trail and Laurel Bybell in Prince Georges County, Maryland
Photo Contest Winner | July 2021 | USGS at Work
Certified USGS Heavy Equipment Operators Cameron Ensor and Nick Grim demolish a broad-crested weir at USGS Station 01574500 at Cordorus Creek in Spring Grove, PA
Photo Contest Winner | July 2021 | USGS at Work
Certified USGS Heavy Equipment Operators Cameron Ensor and Nick Grim demolish a broad-crested weir at USGS Station 01574500 at Cordorus Creek in Spring Grove, PA
Greenhouse study comparing plant performance during drought will help land managers choose plant species for restoring degraded lands. To find out more, follow the Restoration Assessment and Monitoring Program of the Southwest, housed at the Southwest Biolobigical Science Center. www.ugs.gov/sbsc/ramps
Greenhouse study comparing plant performance during drought will help land managers choose plant species for restoring degraded lands. To find out more, follow the Restoration Assessment and Monitoring Program of the Southwest, housed at the Southwest Biolobigical Science Center. www.ugs.gov/sbsc/ramps
A view of Halema‘uma‘u on June 11, 2021, at 12:20 p.m. HST. Although eruptive activity has paused at the Kīlauea summit, HVO geologists still monitor the lava lake and summit area regularly. They make observations to note any physical changes in the landscape or visual changes in gas emissions.
A view of Halema‘uma‘u on June 11, 2021, at 12:20 p.m. HST. Although eruptive activity has paused at the Kīlauea summit, HVO geologists still monitor the lava lake and summit area regularly. They make observations to note any physical changes in the landscape or visual changes in gas emissions.
Comparison of Porkchop Geyser in September 1984 (left) and August 1986 (right). The Geyser entered a period of near-constant eruption in 1985, and the pool disappeared; it exploded on September 5, 1989.
Comparison of Porkchop Geyser in September 1984 (left) and August 1986 (right). The Geyser entered a period of near-constant eruption in 1985, and the pool disappeared; it exploded on September 5, 1989.
A collage of images taken by UGS-GLSC employees during the 2020 field season.
A collage of images taken by UGS-GLSC employees during the 2020 field season.
Map of Yellowstone National Park showing the major rivers and the continental divide (red dashed). Yellowstone Caldera is oulined by purple dashed line. Water flowing south and west of the divide ends up in the Pacific Ocean, whereas water north and east of the divide ends up in the Gulf of Mexico.
Map of Yellowstone National Park showing the major rivers and the continental divide (red dashed). Yellowstone Caldera is oulined by purple dashed line. Water flowing south and west of the divide ends up in the Pacific Ocean, whereas water north and east of the divide ends up in the Gulf of Mexico.
This rat snake is a preserved museum specimen with snake fungal disease that was collected in Tennessee in 1973. The photo was taken at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center in 2017 as part of a study.
This rat snake is a preserved museum specimen with snake fungal disease that was collected in Tennessee in 1973. The photo was taken at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center in 2017 as part of a study.
Upper map shows the flow path of hot spring water from the Old Faithful area through the Firehole, Madison, Missouri and Mississippi Rivers to the Gulf of Mexico. Lower map shows the flow path of hot spring water from south of the continental divide through the Lewis, Snake and Columbia Rivers to the Pacific Ocean.
Upper map shows the flow path of hot spring water from the Old Faithful area through the Firehole, Madison, Missouri and Mississippi Rivers to the Gulf of Mexico. Lower map shows the flow path of hot spring water from south of the continental divide through the Lewis, Snake and Columbia Rivers to the Pacific Ocean.