Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Images

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.

Filter Total Items: 21345
Ground crack at Sunset Park, Anchorage, AK
Ground crack at Sunset Park, Anchorage, AK
Ground crack at Sunset Park, Anchorage, AK
Ground crack at Sunset Park, Anchorage, AK

Crack observed in 2018 along headscarp of 1964 Government Hill landslide.

2018 Anchorage Earthquake

Crack observed in 2018 along headscarp of 1964 Government Hill landslide.

2018 Anchorage Earthquake

Water seeping out of the ground at an exposed driveway cut into the ground.
Groundwater can flow out of the ground back to land surface.
Groundwater can flow out of the ground back to land surface.
Groundwater can flow out of the ground back to land surface.

My neighbor's driveway with some water on it... not very exciting, but it is an excellent example of how groundwater flows underground and can seep back to the land surface. This simple process demonstrates one of the basic aspects of the water cycle.

My neighbor's driveway with some water on it... not very exciting, but it is an excellent example of how groundwater flows underground and can seep back to the land surface. This simple process demonstrates one of the basic aspects of the water cycle.

2018 Potter Hill landslide 1, Anchorage, AK
2018 Potter Hill landslide 1, Anchorage, AK
2018 Potter Hill landslide 1, Anchorage, AK
2018 Potter Hill landslide 1, Anchorage, AK

Slumping along the Alaska Railroad right-of-way evolved into long-runout landslides. The same area failed in earthquakes in 1954 and 1964.

2018 Anchorage Earthquake

Slumping along the Alaska Railroad right-of-way evolved into long-runout landslides. The same area failed in earthquakes in 1954 and 1964.

2018 Anchorage Earthquake

Eagle River landslides, Eagle River, AK
Eagle River landslides, Eagle River, AK
Eagle River landslides, Eagle River, AK
Eagle River landslides, Eagle River, AK

Superficial slides along Eagle River east of Eagle River Loop Road. 

2018 Anchorage Earthquake

Superficial slides along Eagle River east of Eagle River Loop Road. 

2018 Anchorage Earthquake

Eklutna Dam after 2018 Anchorage earthquake
Eklutna Dam after 2018 Anchorage earthquake
Eklutna Dam after 2018 Anchorage earthquake
Eklutna Dam after 2018 Anchorage earthquake

Eklutna Lake dam appeared to be undamaged the day after the earthquake; overflights of the lake showed no landslides impacted the lake shoreline.

Eklutna Lake dam appeared to be undamaged the day after the earthquake; overflights of the lake showed no landslides impacted the lake shoreline.

View through the windshield of a boat on a calm bay looking out on calm waters, trees, and a mountain in distance.
What the skipper sees
What the skipper sees
What the skipper sees

Looking through the windshield of USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center's boat San Lorenzo under pristine field conditions.

Looking through the windshield of USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center's boat San Lorenzo under pristine field conditions.

Banu Bayraktar making a streamflow measurement at Carmans River, Yaphank, NY
Banu Bayraktar making a streamflow measurement at Carmans River, Yapha
Banu Bayraktar making a streamflow measurement at Carmans River, Yapha
Banu Bayraktar making a streamflow measurement at Carmans River, Yapha

Northeast Region Photo Contest Winner | February 2019 | USGS at Work
Banu Bayraktar making a streamflow measurement at Carmans River, Yaphank, NY

person standing in stream holding a pole with 2 people on horse crossing stream in background
Carmans River, Long Island, NY
Carmans River, Long Island, NY
Carmans River, Long Island, NY

Banu Bayraktar learns how to make a streamflow measurement at Carmans River at Yaphank, NY, as part of our new "Hydrologic Monitoring in the Central Pine Barrens" program. Photo by Amy Simonson (Public Domain)

Banu Bayraktar learns how to make a streamflow measurement at Carmans River at Yaphank, NY, as part of our new "Hydrologic Monitoring in the Central Pine Barrens" program. Photo by Amy Simonson (Public Domain)

Recording groundwater levels
Recording Groundwater Levels
Recording Groundwater Levels
Recording Groundwater Levels

USGS Hydrologist Robert Rosman sketching site information at a production well during a water-level-site visit, Camden County.

USGS Hydrologist Robert Rosman sketching site information at a production well during a water-level-site visit, Camden County.

Researcher in Mojave Desert
Researcher in Mojave Desert
Researcher in Mojave Desert
Researcher in Mojave Desert

One of 1,695 repeat photographs taken to provide context for the classification of the Central Mojave Desert into various vegetation classes.

One of 1,695 repeat photographs taken to provide context for the classification of the Central Mojave Desert into various vegetation classes.

The GLSC Aquatic Laboratory
The GLSC Aquatic Laboratory
The GLSC Aquatic Laboratory
The GLSC Aquatic Laboratory

Dr. Wendy Stott (GLSC) discusses the science carried out in the Ann Arbor aquatic research laboratory.

Dr. Wendy Stott (GLSC) discusses the science carried out in the Ann Arbor aquatic research laboratory.

Snow falls on USGS Hydrologist, Joe Nawikas, as he collects groundwater samples in Mammoth, California.
Collecting Groundwater Samples in Mammoth, CA
Collecting Groundwater Samples in Mammoth, CA
Collecting Groundwater Samples in Mammoth, CA

Snow falls on USGS Hydrologist, Joe Nawikas, as he collects groundwater samples in Mammoth, California.

Was this page helpful?