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: 21558
Virus-exposed fathead minnow
Investigation and disease prevention of Spring Viremia of Carp Virus
Investigation and disease prevention of Spring Viremia of Carp Virus
Investigation and disease prevention of Spring Viremia of Carp Virus

Typical clinical signs of SVC disease, exopthalmia and abdominal distension with hemorrhaging seen in a virus-exposed fathead minnow.

Typical clinical signs of SVC disease, exopthalmia and abdominal distension with hemorrhaging seen in a virus-exposed fathead minnow.

Central Valley Water Birds
American White pelican, gulls, sandpipers.
American White pelican, gulls, sandpipers.
American White pelican, gulls, sandpipers.

American White pelican, gulls, sandpipers. 

Location: Salton Sea, California

American White pelican, gulls, sandpipers. 

Location: Salton Sea, California

Image: Cartographers in the Field
Cartographers in the Field
Cartographers in the Field
Cartographers in the Field

This Depression-era oil painting was created by USGS field man Hal Shelton in 1940. The painting depicts mapping techniques used in the early days of cartography, including an alidade and stadia rod for determining distances and elevations and a plane-table for sketching contour lines. A USGS benchmark is visible near the top.

This Depression-era oil painting was created by USGS field man Hal Shelton in 1940. The painting depicts mapping techniques used in the early days of cartography, including an alidade and stadia rod for determining distances and elevations and a plane-table for sketching contour lines. A USGS benchmark is visible near the top.

Image: Continous Seismic Profiling
Continous Seismic Profiling
Continous Seismic Profiling
Continous Seismic Profiling

The USGS collaborated with cooperator U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to conduct continuous seismic-reflection profiling in the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge. The survey was conducted as part of an applied research and technology transfer effort by the USGS Office of Groundwater Branch of Geophysics in 2007.

The USGS collaborated with cooperator U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to conduct continuous seismic-reflection profiling in the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge. The survey was conducted as part of an applied research and technology transfer effort by the USGS Office of Groundwater Branch of Geophysics in 2007.

Crabtree Falls in Nelson County Virginia
Crabtree Falls in Nelson County Virginia
Crabtree Falls in Nelson County Virginia
Crabtree Falls in Nelson County Virginia

Crabtree Falls in Nelson County Virginia

image related to volcanoes. See description
Morning overflight view to the south. The Cape Kumukahi Light can be seen in amo
Morning overflight view to the south. The Cape Kumukahi Light can be seen in amo
Morning overflight view to the south. The Cape Kumukahi Light can be seen in amo

Morning overflight view to the south. The Cape Kumukahi Light can be seen in amongst the flows in the lower portion of the photograph. Ocean entry is still present just offshore of Kapoho with a more robust entry to the south (larger steam plume) near Ahalanui Beach Park.

Morning overflight view to the south. The Cape Kumukahi Light can be seen in amongst the flows in the lower portion of the photograph. Ocean entry is still present just offshore of Kapoho with a more robust entry to the south (larger steam plume) near Ahalanui Beach Park.

Image: Spider Web
Spider Web
Spider Web
Spider Web

A spider web in a forest. An unidentified spider is visible near the center of the web.

A spider web in a forest. An unidentified spider is visible near the center of the web.

Image: Spider Web
Spider Web
Spider Web
Spider Web

A spider web in a forest. An unidentified spider is visible near the center of the web.

A spider web in a forest. An unidentified spider is visible near the center of the web.

Image: Sunrise on the North Platte River 2
Sunrise on the North Platte River 2
Sunrise on the North Platte River 2
Sunrise on the North Platte River 2

Sunrise on the North Platte River at Broadwater, Nebraska. Looking upstream from Hwy 92 bridge.

Sunrise on the North Platte River at Broadwater, Nebraska. Looking upstream from Hwy 92 bridge.

Image: Various Karst Features Along Peace River, Fl
Various Karst Features Along Peace River, Fl
Various Karst Features Along Peace River, Fl
Various Karst Features Along Peace River, Fl

Root filled cavities near Catacombs No. 8 showing underground flow.

The California Aqueduct
Aqueducts move water in the past and still today, as in California
Aqueducts move water in the past and still today, as in California
Aqueducts move water in the past and still today, as in California

Aqueducts move water - today and in ancient times

Clinker formation near Medora, North Dakota
Clinker formation near Medora, North Dakota
Clinker formation near Medora, North Dakota
Clinker formation near Medora, North Dakota

Clinker is formed whn rock units that overlie exposed burning coal seams are baked and fused. The red clinker is more resistant to erosion than non-baked adjacent Fort Union Formation sandstone and forms the caps of many plateaus and buttes.

Clinker is formed whn rock units that overlie exposed burning coal seams are baked and fused. The red clinker is more resistant to erosion than non-baked adjacent Fort Union Formation sandstone and forms the caps of many plateaus and buttes.

Flooded road in Highland County Virginia
Flooded road in Highland County Virginia
Flooded road in Highland County Virginia
Flooded road in Highland County Virginia

Flooded road in Highland County Virginia.

Image: Gall on an Oak Tree
Gall on an Oak Tree
Gall on an Oak Tree
Gall on an Oak Tree

A gall, a swelling of plant tissue, on the top part of a branch of what is believed to be a Post oak tree in East Texas.

A gall, a swelling of plant tissue, on the top part of a branch of what is believed to be a Post oak tree in East Texas.

Image shows gas hydrates in marine sediments with a ruler along the side to show scale
Gas Hydrates in Marine Sediments
Gas Hydrates in Marine Sediments
Gas Hydrates in Marine Sediments

This image shows gas hydrates (the white material) in marine sediments from a test well drilled in the Indian Ocean in 2006 during the Indian National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP) Expedition 01.

This image shows gas hydrates (the white material) in marine sediments from a test well drilled in the Indian Ocean in 2006 during the Indian National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP) Expedition 01.

Image shows gas hydrates in marine sediments from a drill core
Gas Hydrates in Marine Sediments from the Indian Ocean
Gas Hydrates in Marine Sediments from the Indian Ocean
Gas Hydrates in Marine Sediments from the Indian Ocean

This image shows gas hydrates (the white material) in marine sediments from a test well drilled in the Indian Ocean in 2006 during the Indian National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP) Expedition 01.

This image shows gas hydrates (the white material) in marine sediments from a test well drilled in the Indian Ocean in 2006 during the Indian National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP) Expedition 01.

Image shows gas hydrates in marine sediments with a ruler alongside to show scale
Gas Hydrates in Marine Sediments from the Indian Ocean
Gas Hydrates in Marine Sediments from the Indian Ocean
Gas Hydrates in Marine Sediments from the Indian Ocean

This image shows gas hydrates (the white material) in marine sediments from a test well drilled in the Indian Ocean in 2006 during the Indian National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP) Expedition 01.

This image shows gas hydrates (the white material) in marine sediments from a test well drilled in the Indian Ocean in 2006 during the Indian National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP) Expedition 01.

Image shows gas hydrates in marine sediments with a red pen for scale
Gas Hydrates in Marine Sediments from the Indian Ocean
Gas Hydrates in Marine Sediments from the Indian Ocean
Gas Hydrates in Marine Sediments from the Indian Ocean

This image shows gas hydrates (the white material) in marine sediments from a test well drilled in the Indian Ocean in 2006 during the Indian National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP) Expedition 01.

This image shows gas hydrates (the white material) in marine sediments from a test well drilled in the Indian Ocean in 2006 during the Indian National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP) Expedition 01.

Image: Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

A great blue heron standing in the marsh at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge near the Kennedy Space Center.

A great blue heron standing in the marsh at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge near the Kennedy Space Center.

Grinnell Glacier, with dates showing the retreat of the glacier from 1850 to 2005
Grinnell Glacier, Montana has been shrinking in size.
Grinnell Glacier, Montana has been shrinking in size.
Grinnell Glacier, Montana has been shrinking in size.

Glaciers worldwide are shrinking in size

Landscape near the northern Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Landscape near the northern Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Landscape near the northern Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Landscape near the northern Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Landscape near the northern Theodore Roosevelt National Park is characterized by the eroded Fort Union Formation.Photo is taken along Highway 85.

Landscape near the northern Theodore Roosevelt National Park is characterized by the eroded Fort Union Formation.Photo is taken along Highway 85.