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Explore water-related photography, imagery, and illustrations.

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Image: Aufeis
Aufeis
Aufeis
Aufeis

Paul Schuster, USGS, holding an ice core of Aufice (meaning over ice). Each layer represents a groundwater overflow event. Groundwater flows are predicted to increase with warming temperatures likely affecting the formation of Aufice in the Yukon River basin.

Paul Schuster, USGS, holding an ice core of Aufice (meaning over ice). Each layer represents a groundwater overflow event. Groundwater flows are predicted to increase with warming temperatures likely affecting the formation of Aufice in the Yukon River basin.

USGS Scientist Mark Roth listening to frog calls.
USGS Scientist Mark Roth listening to frog calls.
USGS Scientist Mark Roth listening to frog calls.
USGS Scientist Mark Roth listening to frog calls.

USGS Scientist Mark Roth listening to frog calls. Coolecting frog calls allows scientists to determine distribution of species.

USGS Scientist Mark Roth listening to frog calls. Coolecting frog calls allows scientists to determine distribution of species.

Image: Public Wells
Public Wells
Public Wells
Public Wells

Example of wellhead plumbing typical of public wells sampled in a USGS study of 932 public wells nationwide. About 105 million people—or more than one-third of the Nation's population—receive their drinking water from one of the 140,000 public water systems across the United States that rely on groundwater pumped from public wells.

Example of wellhead plumbing typical of public wells sampled in a USGS study of 932 public wells nationwide. About 105 million people—or more than one-third of the Nation's population—receive their drinking water from one of the 140,000 public water systems across the United States that rely on groundwater pumped from public wells.

Image: Manatee Spring
Manatee Spring
Manatee Spring
Manatee Spring

Manatee Spring looking toward main vent.  One of many springs in Florida USGS began a data collection on in 2001. 

Manatee Spring looking toward main vent.  One of many springs in Florida USGS began a data collection on in 2001. 

Image: Alapaha River Draining Into Sink
Alapaha River Draining Into Sink
Alapaha River Draining Into Sink
Alapaha River Draining Into Sink

View of the Alalpaha River draining into a sink in the riverbed during a major drought. 

View of the Alalpaha River draining into a sink in the riverbed during a major drought. 

Image: South Africa Coast and Urban Development
South Africa Coast and Urban Development
South Africa Coast and Urban Development
South Africa Coast and Urban Development

View of mountainous coastline in South Africa showing urban development.

View of mountainous coastline in South Africa showing urban development.

Image: South Africa Coastline
South Africa Coastline
South Africa Coastline
South Africa Coastline

Scenic view of coastline in South Africa.

Scenic view of coastline in South Africa.

Image: Rio Grande and Cliffs in Boquillas Canyon, Big Bend National Park
Rio Grande and Cliffs in Boquillas Canyon, Big Bend National Park
Rio Grande and Cliffs in Boquillas Canyon, Big Bend National Park
Rio Grande and Cliffs in Boquillas Canyon, Big Bend National Park

The Rio Grande as it flows in Big Bend National Park, mostly flow from the Rio Conchos in Mexico.  The canyon is downstream of the USGS gage.

The Rio Grande as it flows in Big Bend National Park, mostly flow from the Rio Conchos in Mexico.  The canyon is downstream of the USGS gage.

NYWSC_HydroacousticTurbidity
NYWSC_HydroacousticTurbidity
NYWSC_HydroacousticTurbidity

Dan Edwards and Gary Wall attach a hydroacoustic and turbidity equipment package to a tripod for deployment on the bottom of the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie, NY

Dan Edwards and Gary Wall attach a hydroacoustic and turbidity equipment package to a tripod for deployment on the bottom of the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie, NY

Image: Medina River Winter View at Bandera, TX
Medina River Winter View at Bandera, TX
Medina River Winter View at Bandera, TX
Medina River Winter View at Bandera, TX

Clear cool water over a limestone rock and gravel riverbed is characteristic of many Texas Hill County Creeks and Rivers. 

Clear cool water over a limestone rock and gravel riverbed is characteristic of many Texas Hill County Creeks and Rivers. 

USGS regional research drill rig near Truckee River, NV
USGS regional research drill rig near Truckee River, NV
USGS regional research drill rig near Truckee River, NV
USGS regional research drill rig near Truckee River, NV

USGS regional research drill rig constructing sites near the south bank of the Truckee River just downstream of USGS 10350000 Truckee River at Vista. The wells were constructed to investigate surface water groundwater interaction.

USGS regional research drill rig constructing sites near the south bank of the Truckee River just downstream of USGS 10350000 Truckee River at Vista. The wells were constructed to investigate surface water groundwater interaction.

water rapids
Batavia Kill at Red Falls, Greene County, NY
Batavia Kill at Red Falls, Greene County, NY
Batavia Kill at Red Falls, Greene County, NY

Batavia Kill at Red Falls, Greene County, NY

2 USGS scientists in inflatable boat on tidal marsh on Long Island
Water sampling in tidal marsh on Long Island
Water sampling in tidal marsh on Long Island
Water sampling in tidal marsh on Long Island

USGS scientists taking water samples in the tidal marsh on Long Island.

USGS scientists taking water samples in the tidal marsh on Long Island.

Domestic well in front of house in rural area
Domestic (private) well
Domestic (private) well
Domestic (private) well

More than 40 million people in the U.S. rely on domestic wells, like the one shown here, for their drinking water. Concentrations of groundwater at the wellhead typically are low, but lead can leach into the water from corrosion of household plumbing that contains lead.

More than 40 million people in the U.S. rely on domestic wells, like the one shown here, for their drinking water. Concentrations of groundwater at the wellhead typically are low, but lead can leach into the water from corrosion of household plumbing that contains lead.

photo of 5 Long Island core samples
Long Island core samples
Long Island core samples
Long Island core samples

Long Island core samples

photo of 3 women beside Long Island road measuring groundwater with instrumentation
Groundwater Sampling on Long Island
Groundwater Sampling on Long Island
Groundwater Sampling on Long Island

Groundwater sampling for water quality on Long Island, New York

Groundwater sampling for water quality on Long Island, New York

Image: Coastal Salt Marsh
Coastal Salt Marsh
Coastal Salt Marsh
Coastal Salt Marsh

An Everglades National Park coastal salt marsh crossed with drainage creeks.

An Everglades National Park coastal salt marsh crossed with drainage creeks.

Streamflow-gaging station 08028500 Sabine River near Bon Wier, Texas, left bank adjacent to U.S. Highway 190 bridge.
Station 08028500 Sabine River near Bon Wier, Texas
Station 08028500 Sabine River near Bon Wier, Texas
Station 08028500 Sabine River near Bon Wier, Texas

U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station 08028500 Sabine River near Bon Wier, Texas, photograph looking from left bank adjacent to U.S. Highway 190 bridge, May 30, 1999.

SIR 2009–5174

U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station 08028500 Sabine River near Bon Wier, Texas, photograph looking from left bank adjacent to U.S. Highway 190 bridge, May 30, 1999.

SIR 2009–5174

Image: Coastal Dune with Seaoats (Uniola paniculata) and Spanish Bayonets (Yucca Sp.)
Coastal Dune with Seaoats (Uniola paniculata) and Spanish Bayonets (Yucca Sp.)
Coastal Dune with Seaoats (Uniola paniculata) and Spanish Bayonets (Yucca Sp.)
Coastal Dune with Seaoats (Uniola paniculata) and Spanish Bayonets (Yucca Sp.)

Florida's Atlantic coastal dune with typical vegetation such as seaoats and Spanish bayonets. Trails to the beach cut through the dune. Photograph taken circa 1998.

Florida's Atlantic coastal dune with typical vegetation such as seaoats and Spanish bayonets. Trails to the beach cut through the dune. Photograph taken circa 1998.

Image: 1997 Flooding in Grand Forks
1997 Flooding in Grand Forks
1997 Flooding in Grand Forks
1997 Flooding in Grand Forks

Burned-out buildings in downtown Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Burned-out buildings in downtown Grand Forks, North Dakota.