This month in Photo of the Day: Images From the National Geographic Archive
Because the region around New Orleans is composed of alluvial soil, there is no paving material close at hand. More than a hundred years ago the city offered a bounty to ships which would bring to the port rock ballast instead of sand. The first cobblestone pavement was laid on Gravier and Magazine Streets in 1817.
See our editors' selections in each category from this year's National Geographic International Photography Contest—and keep an eye on the competition.
National Geographic Traveler has scoured the globe for the world's most beautiful, interesting, and off-beat road trips. Dive in to get drive directions, quizzes, photos, and more.
The U.S. National Park Service preserves 390 parks, historic sites, memorials, and recreation areas—to experience them all would take a lifetime. Take a tour from your desktop now!