Happy American Eagle Day! As a national symbol, this majestic bird appears on everything from money to memorials, but decades ago, it almost disappeared completely. Because of the ban on the pesticide DDT and habitat protection, the bald eagle is now flourishing across the nation and no longer needs the protection of the Endangered Species Act. It’s a great Wildlife Win and one more reason to celebrate eagles and all they represent. #Merica Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest.

Happy Fathers Day! A father’s love runs as deep as the Grand Canyon. Thanks to all the dads for being such great teachers, providers and comedians. Enjoy your day (and if you’re heading outdoors, be sure to bring plenty of water – it’s going to be HOT)! Photo of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona by W. Tyson Joye, National Park Service.

Wilderness areas are places untamed by humans. They protect America’s pristine wild lands from development so they will not disappear. Of Yosemite National Park’s 1,200 square miles, nearly 95 percent of it is designated as wilderness and many consider the park the gateway to California’s other unspoiled wilderness areas. Pictured here is Cathedral Peak along the John Muir Trail glowing with the setting sun.

This weekend, President Obama and the First Family are exploring the wonders of Yosemite. Follow along @whitehouse. 

Photo by Vivek Vijaykumar (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Handies Peak Wilderness Study Area in Colorado is breathtaking in the summer. Handies Peak rises 14,048 feet over the area, and this vibrant wilderness also hosts three major canyons, glacial cirques and three alpine lakes. Handies Peak is one of more than 500 wilderness study areas – lands unspoiled by roads or other development that provide outstanding opportunities for solitude. Photo by Bob Wick, @mypubliclands.

Similar to national parks, national conservation areas are designated by Congress and feature scientific, cultural, historical and recreational features. They’re places like California’s King Range National Conservation Area, where the dominate feature is a spectacular meeting of land and sea. Mountains seem to thrust straight out of the surf. King Peak, the highest point at 4,088 feet, is only three miles from the ocean. Showing dazzling spring colors, the unique landscape and abundant wildlife make this fascinating place perfect for everything from scientific study to extreme recreation.

Learn more about the different types of public lands: on.doi.gov/1PpdkFx

Photo by Bob Wick, @mypubliclands.

Our week of explaining the different types of America’s public lands and why they’re all so special continues with national battlefields and military parks. These historic places act as memorials to the fallen and powerful classrooms to help us understand important stories of courage and sacrifice. Long after the guns fell silent, you can still hear their echoes on these peaceful fields. The landscape, artifacts and living history demonstrations connect us to the past struggles that shaped our nation. Visiting places like Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland, the site of the bloodiest day of the Civil War, will leave you humbled.

Learn more about the different types of public lands: on.doi.gov/1PpdkFx

Photo by National Park Service.

If national parks are America’s best idea, then national wildlife refuges are America’s best kept secret. Wildlife refuges conserve America’s fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats – and often provide amazing recreation opportunities. Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge is one of 7 national wildlife refuges at the heart of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world. While Johnston Atoll is hard to get to – it may be the most isolated atoll in the world – the refuge is an oasis for coral reef and bird life. Several dozen coral species and hundreds of different fish species reside in Johnston’s offshore reefs, and onshore plants provide essential nesting habitat and cover for seabirds from the extreme heat and wind. Learn more about the different types of public lands: on.doi.gov/1PpdkFx. Photo by Laura M. Beauregard, USFWS.

Ever wonder what’s the difference between a national park, monument and forest? All this week, we’re breaking down the different types of America’s public lands and why they’re all so special. First up: National monuments – they protect a specific natural, cultural or historic feature. For example, the Sonoran Desert National Monument in Arizona is the most biologically diverse of the North American deserts, and its namesake monument protects an extensive saguaro cactus forest that visitors can hike through to see classic desert vistas. Photo of the Milky Way shining above saguaro cacti by Bob Wick, @mypubliclands

Towering mountains, glaciers and icy-blue waters meet at Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska. Captivating scenery and the chance to see wildlife like bears and whales await adventurous travelers, who can explore the park by boat, kayak, or hiking the iconic Harding Icefield Trail. The park is named for fjords, or long, narrow valleys with steep sides carved by glaciers. Photo by National Park Service.

We’re celebrating National Get Outdoors Day with this beautiful photo of Spray Park Trail, which winds through meadows and forests at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington. This 6-mile trail offers spectacular views of fields of wildflowers alongside va waterfall and Mowich Glacier. Even if you can’t make it to the park, get inspired and find public lands near you to make the most of this special day! Need more inspiration? Check out some of our favorite public lands photos at: http://on.doi.gov/1PkhGOq Photo by Sam Braverman (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).