Shoreline of Lake Retba, Senegal
Biplane above Monomoy Island, Massachusetts
Sand dunes in the Rub al Khali desert
Fronds drying in Kenya
Cavelike homes in rock formations in Turkey
Aerial view of grassless patches in the Namib Desert
Bacteria in a New Zealand thermal pool
Sunflower florets
Lichens on a gravestone in Lake Champlain, New York
Banskia flower
Light reflecting on a rock wall in Utah
Close-up of a giant clam mantle
Close-up of a cactus in Manzanillo, Mexico
A millipede curled into a spiral
Scales of an Atlantic salmon
Magnified diatoms
Close-up of a basket sea star
Ray of light from a cenote in Mexico
Snapping turtle shell
Mammatus clouds over Nebraska
1 of 20
Salt Piles on Shoreline, Senegal
Salt piles line the shoreline of Lake Retba, Senegal. The high salinity content of the lake provides a livelihood for salt collectors.
Photograph by Robert Haas
  • PHOTOGRAPHY

Patterns in Nature: Mysterious Earth

See mysterious Earth pattern photos, from National Geographic.

Related Topics

  • NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
  • EARTH
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
  • FLOWERS
  • DESERTS
  • STARFISH (SEA STARS)
  • FISH
  • SINKHOLES
  • ANIMALS

You May Also Like

TRAVEL

10 of the best Sir David Attenborough documentaries to watch

ENVIRONMENT

This creature was dubbed the Sasquatch of the sea. Scientists just found it.

HISTORY & CULTURE

Speeding across the Sahara on one of Earth's most punishing road trips

PHOTOGRAPHY

These were the first underwater photos to reveal the ocean floor—in full color

ANIMALS

Saving the world's largest sea star from extinction just got interesting

Legal
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
Our Sites
  • Nat Geo Home
  • Attend a Live Event
  • Book a Trip
  • Buy Maps
  • Inspire Your Kids
  • Shop Nat Geo
  • Visit the D.C. Museum
  • Watch TV
  • Learn About Our Impact
  • Support Our Mission
  • Masthead
  • Press Room
  • Advertise With Us
Join Us
  • Subscribe
  • Customer Service
  • Renew Subscription
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Work at Nat Geo
  • Sign Up for Our Newsletters
  • Contribute to Protect the Planet
Follow us
National Geographic Logo - Home

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2026 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved