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: 21545
USGS Library in Denver, front desk, map cases, bookshelves
Front Desk and Reading Areas at USGS Library in Denver
Front Desk and Reading Areas at USGS Library in Denver
Front Desk and Reading Areas at USGS Library in Denver

USGS Library locations offer collections and services to USGS staff and public researchers.

USGS Library locations offer collections and services to USGS staff and public researchers.

Satellite image showing flooding in Sri Lanka
Heavy Flooding in Sri Lanka
Heavy Flooding in Sri Lanka
Heavy Flooding in Sri Lanka

On May 18, 2016, a Landsat 8 acquisition of flood-ravaged Sri Lanka produced impressive imagery of swollen waterways.

USGS Library in Denver, computer terminals and reading area
Reading Areas and Public Computers at USGS Library in Denver
Reading Areas and Public Computers at USGS Library in Denver
Reading Areas and Public Computers at USGS Library in Denver

USGS Library locations offer collections and services to USGS staff and public researchers.

USGS Library locations offer collections and services to USGS staff and public researchers.

Salcha River debris near Salchaket
Salcha River debris near Salchaket
Salcha River debris near Salchaket
Salcha River debris near Salchaket

Salcha River debris near Salchaket

Cumulative number of earthquakes (counts) that have occurred at Mou...
Cumulative number of earthquakes (counts) that have occurred at Mou...
Cumulative number of earthquakes (counts) that have occurred at Mou...
Cumulative number of earthquakes (counts) that have occurred at Mou...

The red line shows the total number of earthquakes that have occurred at Mount Hood between the year 2000 and May 16, 2016. During this period, there have been 829 earthquakes greater than magnitude 1. Note the number of earthquakes during the 2002 swarm.

The red line shows the total number of earthquakes that have occurred at Mount Hood between the year 2000 and May 16, 2016. During this period, there have been 829 earthquakes greater than magnitude 1. Note the number of earthquakes during the 2002 swarm.

Montana wetland
Montana wetland
Montana wetland
Montana wetland

Panoramic view of a Montana wetland

Panoramic view of a Montana wetland

View looking north along the eastern shore of Little Pond, East Falmouth, MA
View along the eastern shore of Little Pond, East Falmouth
View along the eastern shore of Little Pond, East Falmouth
View along the eastern shore of Little Pond, East Falmouth

Eutrophication is seen along the eastern shore of Little Pond, East Falmouth, Massachusetts.

Eutrophication is seen along the eastern shore of Little Pond, East Falmouth, Massachusetts.

Photo of a hen mallard with a GPS transmitter.
USGS WERC Scientist Holding Hen Mallard with Transmitter
USGS WERC Scientist Holding Hen Mallard with Transmitter
USGS WERC Scientist Holding Hen Mallard with Transmitter

Photo of a USGS scientist holding a hen mallard equipped with a GPS transmitter. 

An ice worm on the tip of a finger
A True Ice Worm on La Perouse Glacier, Glacier Bay National Park
A True Ice Worm on La Perouse Glacier, Glacier Bay National Park
A True Ice Worm on La Perouse Glacier, Glacier Bay National Park

A true ice worm (Mesenchytraeus solifugus) on the La Perouse Glacier, Glacier Bay National Park. 

A true ice worm (Mesenchytraeus solifugus) on the La Perouse Glacier, Glacier Bay National Park. 

Satellit image showing fort McMurray fires
Fort McMurray Wildfire (Before and After)
Fort McMurray Wildfire (Before and After)
Fort McMurray Wildfire (Before and After)

Eleven days after a wildfire first sparked south of Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, Landsat 8’s Operational Land Imager (OLI) captured imagery of one of the most destructive infernos in Canadian history. The fire has burned an area approaching 600,000 acres.

Eleven days after a wildfire first sparked south of Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, Landsat 8’s Operational Land Imager (OLI) captured imagery of one of the most destructive infernos in Canadian history. The fire has burned an area approaching 600,000 acres.

Man and woman riding an airboat. A giant fan on the back of the boat propels it down a river bordered by thick green vegetation.
USGS scientists on an airboat in Louisiana wetland
USGS scientists on an airboat in Louisiana wetland
USGS scientists on an airboat in Louisiana wetland

WARC scientists take an airboat out to a wetland study site in Louisiana

WARC scientists take an airboat out to a wetland study site in Louisiana

When were the first photographs of Kīlauea Volcano taken?...
When were the first photographs of Kīlauea taken?
When were the first photographs of Kīlauea taken?
When were the first photographs of Kīlauea taken?

This image of Kīlauea Volcano's summit, probably taken in the 1860s from a site near where Jaggar Museum in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is located today, was once thought to be the first photograph of Kīlauea. It shows part of the caldera rim and floor with a fuming Halema‘uma‘u Crater near the center of the image. USGS/HVO photo archives.

This image of Kīlauea Volcano's summit, probably taken in the 1860s from a site near where Jaggar Museum in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is located today, was once thought to be the first photograph of Kīlauea. It shows part of the caldera rim and floor with a fuming Halema‘uma‘u Crater near the center of the image. USGS/HVO photo archives.

When were the first photographs of Kīlauea Volcano taken?...
When were the first photographs of Kīlauea taken?
When were the first photographs of Kīlauea taken?
When were the first photographs of Kīlauea taken?

This daguerreotype image, captured in 1855 by Hugo Stangenwald, is the earliest known photograph of Kīlauea Volcano. Although scratched and faded, the 161-year-old photo shows a line of steaming vents across the floor of Kīlauea's summit caldera as viewed from a location near today's Volcano House Hotel. The caldera rim is visible in the lower third of the image.

This daguerreotype image, captured in 1855 by Hugo Stangenwald, is the earliest known photograph of Kīlauea Volcano. Although scratched and faded, the 161-year-old photo shows a line of steaming vents across the floor of Kīlauea's summit caldera as viewed from a location near today's Volcano House Hotel. The caldera rim is visible in the lower third of the image.

2 men sitting on stone wall by Mohawk River with ADCP
Measuring discharge with ADCP on Mohawk River
Measuring discharge with ADCP on Mohawk River
Measuring discharge with ADCP on Mohawk River

Measuring discharge with ADCP on Mohawk River

2 people sitting on a concrete ledge operating an adcp in the Mohawk River
Measuring discharge with ADCP on the Mohawk River, NY
Measuring discharge with ADCP on the Mohawk River, NY
Measuring discharge with ADCP on the Mohawk River, NY

Measuring discharge with ADCP on the Mohawk River, NY

Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Staff on a Field Activity on the R/V Rafael
Field Activity 2016-005-FA North of Nantucket, MA
Field Activity 2016-005-FA North of Nantucket, MA
Field Activity 2016-005-FA North of Nantucket, MA

Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center scientists aboard the RV Rafael prepare to launch the Mini SEABOSS just off of Nantucket!  The Mini SEABOSS collects samples, photos and video of the seafloor. 

Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center scientists aboard the RV Rafael prepare to launch the Mini SEABOSS just off of Nantucket!  The Mini SEABOSS collects samples, photos and video of the seafloor. 

Image: Best Job in the World
Best Job in the World
Best Job in the World
Best Job in the World

Biological technicians, Beth Ogata, Kristina Young, and Natalie Day head back to base-camp after a day of monitoring vegetation and biological soil crusts in Canyonlands NP.

Biological technicians, Beth Ogata, Kristina Young, and Natalie Day head back to base-camp after a day of monitoring vegetation and biological soil crusts in Canyonlands NP.

Image: Canyonlands and the Colorado Plateau
Canyonlands and the Colorado Plateau
Canyonlands and the Colorado Plateau
Canyonlands and the Colorado Plateau

The Needles district of Canyonlands serves as a stunning backdrop to our study site in the high desert grassland of the Colorado Plateau. Researchers at Canyonlands Research Station are testing the effect of experimentally imposed altered precipitation regimes on plant reproductive success, mortality, and biomass.

The Needles district of Canyonlands serves as a stunning backdrop to our study site in the high desert grassland of the Colorado Plateau. Researchers at Canyonlands Research Station are testing the effect of experimentally imposed altered precipitation regimes on plant reproductive success, mortality, and biomass.

Denis R. LeBlanc receiving his Distinguished Service Award
Denis R. LeBlanc receiving his Distinguished Service Award
Denis R. LeBlanc receiving his Distinguished Service Award
Denis R. LeBlanc receiving his Distinguished Service Award

Denis R. LeBlanc receiving his Distinguished Service Award on May 9, 2016, from Mike Connor, Deputy Secretary of the Interior (left) and Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Interior (right). 

Denis R. LeBlanc receiving his Distinguished Service Award on May 9, 2016, from Mike Connor, Deputy Secretary of the Interior (left) and Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Interior (right). 

Image: Don't Bust the Crust
Don't Bust the Crust
Don't Bust the Crust
Don't Bust the Crust

To examine the influence of biological soil crusts in ecosystems (soil food webs, soil stability, soil nutrient cycles, and plant communities), Hilda Smith, biological technician, prepares to resample paired experimental plots where biological soil crusts were removed annually since 1995 or left intact at Arches NP.

To examine the influence of biological soil crusts in ecosystems (soil food webs, soil stability, soil nutrient cycles, and plant communities), Hilda Smith, biological technician, prepares to resample paired experimental plots where biological soil crusts were removed annually since 1995 or left intact at Arches NP.

Dr. Michael T. Meyer receiving his Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Michael T. Meyer receiving his Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Michael T. Meyer receiving his Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Michael T. Meyer receiving his Distinguished Service Award

Dr. Michael T. Meyer receiving his Distinguished Service Award on May 9, 2016, from Mike Connor, Deputy Secretary of the Interior (left) and Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Interior (right)

Dr. Michael T. Meyer receiving his Distinguished Service Award on May 9, 2016, from Mike Connor, Deputy Secretary of the Interior (left) and Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Interior (right)

Was this page helpful?