Southwestern Myotis (Myotis auriculus) in flight about to take a drink, Chiricahuas, Coronado National Forest, Arizona, United States of America, North America

Southwestern Myotis (Myotis auriculus) in flight after taking a drink, Chiricahuas, Coronado National Forest, Arizona, United States of America, North America

Jumping cholla (Cylindropuntia fulgida) (hanging chain cholla) native to the southwestern United States of America and northern Mexico, Baja, Mexico, North America

View from second deck of fire watchtower on summit of Apache Maid Mountain, Coconino National Forest, Arizona, United States of America

Three Sisters, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Utah, United States of America

West Mitten Butte, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Utah, United States of America

John Ford's Point, Merrick Butte in background, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Utah, United States of America

Southwestern view from a cliff in the saddle area of Cathedral Rock, Sedona, Arizona, United States of America, North America

Sun setting into offshore fog bank at Harris Beach State Park, Oregon coast.

Three Sisters rock formations, thunderstorm, eroded entrada sandstone hoodoos and rock formations, Goblins, Goblin Valley State Park, San Rafael Reef Desert, Utah, Southwestern USA, USA

Delicate Arch, rock arch, La Sal Mountains, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, Southwestern United States, United States of America, USA

Balanced Rock, rock formation, thunderstorm clouds, lightning, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, Southwestern United States, United States of America, USA

Swarowski chandelier, weight eight tons, width eight meters, height 15 meters, dome, ornaments, prayer hall men, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat capital, Sultanate of Oman, gulf states, Arabic Peninsula, Middle East, Asia

Sultan-Qabus-Mosque with flowerbed at front, Salalah, Dhofar, Sultanate of Oman, Gulf State, Arabian Peninsula, Middle East, Asia

Minaret, dome, lawn, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat capital, Sultanate of Oman, gulf states, Arabic Peninsula, Middle East, Asia

Balanced Rock, rock formation, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, Southwestern United States, United States of America, USA

Naiche, hereditary chief, serving the army, Chiricahua Apaches, an Apache tribal group in the southwestern United States, after a painting by F.A.Rinehart, 1899, Historic, digitally restored reproduction of an original from the period

Panoramic view, rainbow during a thunderstorm, eroded entrada sandstone hoodoos and rock formations, Goblins, Goblin Valley State Park, San Rafael Reef Desert, Utah, Southwestern USA, USA

Balanced Rock, rock formation, evening mood, thunderstorm clouds, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, Southwestern United States, United States of America, USA

Square with pointed arch, gate, minaret, dome, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat capital, Sultanate of Oman, gulf states, Arabic Peninsula, Middle East, Asia

Square with pointed arch, gate, minaret, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat capital, Sultanate of Oman, gulf states, Arabic Peninsula, Middle East, Asia

Delicate Arch, rock arch, La Sal Mountains, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, Southwestern United States, United States of America, USA

Rock formations of Turret Arch, rock arch, Elephant Butte, North Window, South Window, Balanced Rock, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, Southwestern United States, United States of America, USA

Pipes for pipeline construction alongside a highway in southwestern Pennsylvania where hydraulic fracturing is commonly used to increase gas recovery; fracking is controversial because of environmental problems, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA

Delicate Arch, rock arch, La Sal Mountains, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, Southwestern United States, United States of America, USA

Rock formations of Turret Arch, rock arch, Elephant Butte, North Window, South Window, La Sal Mountains at the back, dramatic clouds, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, Southwestern United States, United States of America, USA

Rock formations of Turret Arch, rock arch, dramatic clouds, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, Southwestern United States, United States of America, USA

Tourists taking pictures in front of Delicate Arch, rock arch, La Sal Mountains, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, Southwestern United States, United States of America, USA

Large square with pointed arch, gates, minaret, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat capital, Sultanate of Oman, gulf states, Arabic Peninsula, Middle East, Asia

Delicate Arch, rock arch, La Sal Mountains, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, Southwestern United States, United States of America, USA

Arches National Park welcome sign, Moab, Utah, Southwestern United States, United States of America, USA

Tower of Babel rock formation, Park Avenue Trail, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, Southwestern United States, United States of America, USA

A Harris hawk gets ready to land on the fist of master falconer Robert Waite at the British School of Falconry in Manchester, Vermont. The Harris hawk, a southwestern United States species, is a very sociable bird and ideal for working in groups.

A fieldworker sharpens shovels the old fashioned way at the Big Eddy, an Archaeological site on the Sac River in southwestern, MO. Archaeologist Neal Lopinot from Missouri State University has been digging their since 1997 to gain a more complete understanding of the prehistoric record in North America. (Photo by David McLain, Aurora)

A brown bear (Ursus arctos) standing upright among the sedges, appears to dance to music only it can hear overlooking McNeil Cove in Southwestern Alaska, Alaska, United States of America

Spectacular formation of vibrant colors in swirls of fragile sandstone is known as The Wave and is located in the Coyote Buttes section of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. An unmarked wilderness trail limits hikers and requires a permit from the Bureau of Land Management, Arizona, United States of America

Spectacular formation of vibrant colors in swirls of fragile sandstone is known as The Wave and is located in the Coyote Buttes section of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. An unmarked wilderness trail limits hikers and requires a permit from the Bureau of Land Management, Arizona, United States of America

Fish fossil is held in the palm of a hand. Some of the world's best preserved fossils are found in the Fossil Butte National Monument on flat-topped ridges of southwestern Wyoming's cold sagebrush desert. Discoveries from the ancient lake sediments the Eocene Green River Formation of Fossil Basin are world-renowned, Wyoming, United States of America

A brown bear (Ursus arctos) standing upright among the sedges, appears to dance to music only it can hear overlooking McNeil Cove in Southwestern Alaska, Alaska, United States of America

Aerial View Of Clouds Reflecting On The Glassy Surface Of Nerka Lake, The Wood River Mountains In The Background, Wood Tikchik State Park, Southwestern Alaska, Alaska, United States Of America

Brown bear (Ursus arctos) pauses on a spit extending into southwestern Alaska's McNeil Cove, Alaska, United States of America

Brown Bear (Ursus Arctos) Sow With Three Cubs Of The Year Walking Along Trail, Katmai National Park And Preserve, Alaska, United States Of America

A young woman poses while peering out from behind a rusty weathered drum, South naknek bristol bay alaska united states of america

Aerial view of the southwestern tip of Oahu, Oahu, Hawaii, United States of America

Red Chili Peppers, Taos, New Mexico, United States of America

Southwestern Style Great Room, Wickenburg, Arizona, United States of America

Old Wooden Doors, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States of America

El Santuario de Chimayo, Chimayo, New Mexico, United States of America

El Santuario de Chimayo, Chimayo, New Mexico, United States of America