March 4, 2026
10 Remarkable Natural Landscapes in the United States
A guided overview of ten landscape types across the United States, from granite valleys to subtropical wetlands.
Explore the Natural Wonders of the United States
Discover forests, mountains, deserts, coastlines, wildlife and other remarkable landscapes across the United States.
Explore by landscape
Eight landscape types that shape the geography, climate and wildlife of the country.
Mountains
Ranges such as the Appalachians, Rockies, Sierra Nevada and Cascades shape climate, rivers and habitat across the country.
Forests
From eastern deciduous woodlands to Pacific Northwest temperate rainforests, forests cover a large share of the country.
Deserts
The Mojave, Sonoran, Chihuahuan and Great Basin deserts each have distinct plants, temperatures and rainfall patterns.
Lakes
Glacial lakes, the Great Lakes, crater lakes and reservoirs store freshwater and support distinct aquatic communities.
Rivers
River systems such as the Mississippi, Missouri, Colorado and Columbia carve landscapes and connect ecosystems.
Coastlines
Atlantic barrier islands, Gulf shores, rugged Pacific headlands and Arctic coasts each form under different conditions.
Grasslands
Tallgrass, mixed-grass and shortgrass prairies stretch across the interior of the continent.
Wetlands
Marshes, swamps, bogs and estuaries sit between land and water and support exceptional biological diversity.
National parks, explained
Concise, factual profiles of well-known protected areas: where they are, the landscapes they protect, the plants and animals they support and general safety guidance. Details that change over time link back to the official managing agency.
Read park profilesLatest articles
View all articlesFebruary 18, 2026
How Desert Ecosystems Adapt to Extreme Conditions
Plants and animals in American deserts use structure, timing and behaviour to manage heat and scarce water.
February 2, 2026
Exploring the Forests of the Pacific Northwest
Why the coastal forests of Washington, Oregon and northern California grow so tall, wet and green.