Earth Day Photos: Submit Your Own Nature Pictures

April 22nd is Earth Day, an international celebration of Planet Earth. While important legislative and social changes came about as a result of the Earth Day movement, it is also a time to celebrate the simple, physical beauty of this planet.

Some of of the most breathtaking places on Earth have been designated as sacred spots, often referred to as the 7 Wonders of the Natural World. According to CNN, the 7 Natural Wonders are the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef, the Harbor of Rio De Janeiro, Mount Everest, Aurora, Parícutin Volcano, and Victoria Falls. Each of these places are recognized for their natural beauty and majesty.

Unfortunately, a number of the world's most beautiful places are slowly being ruined by human interruption. In 2009, the Australian Government released a report outlining the threats facing the Great Barrier Reef. After becoming bleached by pollution, tourism, and other effects of climate change, the reef is in dire need of protection in order to survive. The Aral Sea, once the fourth largest lake in the world, is only a fraction of it's 1960 size after a government irrigation plan destroyed it, according to the NASA website. And due to illegal logging, CNN cited the Tahuamanu Rainforest, Madagascar forests, and the Congo River Basin as natural habitats in grave danger of disappearing forever.

But there are ways to protect these resources. With 80% of water pollution coming from land activity, cutting down on waste would save both our forests and our oceans.

Do you have your own natural wonder? Whether it is a landscape, special location or just a perfect tree, we want to see it! Submit your own nature photo, and enjoy the images below.

UPDATE: Submissions are now closed. Thanks to everyone who submitted their favorite nature photos!

RATE IT!   |  

VOTE

Eh, not so impressive

Wow, how amazing!

CURRENT TOP 5 PICK YOUR OWN TOP 5

USERS WHO VOTED

NEW! CREATE YOUR OWN SLIDESHOW

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[bccnp1]

05:42 AM on 06/03/2012

Just plain beautiful. I envy the folks who turn their cameras in to tools of an artist.
Great job by all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SiybkLjO3g&feature=relmfu

[Kate Ragas]

01:33 PM on 04/22/2012

I guess I'm a little biased, being from Niagara Falls. It's not quite what it used to be, though...

[nikki717]

07:08 AM on 04/22/2012

These are gorgeous

[livegan]

08:07 PM on 04/16/2012

"As environmental science has advanced, it has become apparent that the human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future: deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice, the destabilization of communities, and the spread of disease." Worldwatch Institute, "Is Meat Sustainable?"

"The livestock sector emerges as one of the top contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global. The findings of this report suggest that it should be a major policy focus when dealing with problems of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortage and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Livestock’s contribution to environmental problems is on a massive scale and its potential contribution to their solution is equally large. The impact is so significant that it needs to be addressed with urgency." UN Food and Agricultural Organization's report "Livestock's Long Shadow"

“If every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetables and grains... the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off of U.S. roads.” Environmental Defense Fund

Why would someone choose to be vegan? To slow global warming for one! Here are two uplifting videos to help everyone understand why so many people are making this life affirming choice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKr4HZ7ukSE and http://www.veganvideo.org