NPS announces winners of Natural Landmarks Photo Contest

Crystal clear emerald waters of Colorado, the sun rising over Florida rosemary scrub, and sedimentary rocks against a starry Kansas night sky epitomize the beauty and diversity of America’s natural places.

These are just a few of the scenes captured by photographers in the 2011 National Natural Landmarks (NNL)Photo Contest. A National Park Service-wide vote took place in mid-August.

The winning photos and 10 Honorable Mentions will be featured in the 2012 NNL calendar, specially designed to commemorate the NNL Program’s 50th Anniversary.

“These stunning photographs not only highlight the beauty of these spectacular places, but the longevity of the National Park Service’s relationship with partners for resource conservation,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis.

There are 591 national natural landmarks across the United States, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. NNLs are designated by the Secretary of the Interior following rigorous scientific study, and include features on private, state, municipal, and federal lands.

To view the 13 winning photographs from this year’s contest, visit the National Park Service website. A complete list of national natural landmarks and additional information about the program can be found on the NPS Index page of the website.