The giant saguaro is a symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park in Arizona. Here you have a chance to see these enormous cacti, silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset. Photo by Eileen Mattil (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Happy Independence Day from all of us at Interior! 🎆  We hope you have a happy and safe holiday. Photo of the 4th of July fireworks display over the National Mall in Washington, DC, by Tom Hamilton (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl). 🇺🇸

A trip to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming isn’t complete without viewing the majestic Lower Falls. When visiting the park in 2012, Stuart Burnett and his wife Patti captured this shot of Lower Falls legendary rainbow thanks to detailed research and planning. Of the experience, Stuart says, “You could hear the gasp from the other viewers as the rainbow formed. It was just magnificent!! It lasted for about 10 minutes … 10 minutes that I will never forget!!” Photo courtesy of Stuart Burnett. 🌈

Last week’s summer solstice marked the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, but Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska hasn’t noticed much change. The last time the sun set in Bettles was on June 2, when it dipped below the horizon for a little over 20 minutes. The next time it sets will be on July 10, when it will once again drop below the horizon briefly before rising again. No wonder it’s called the land of the midnight sun. Photo by National Park Service.

Fought over the first three days of July 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania was one of the most crucial battles of the Civil War. On those hills and fields, over 160,000 soldiers struggled to survive. Preserved as Gettysburg National Military Park, visitors can hear their stories and walk in their footsteps. Sunset photo by Doug Shearer (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).