<p>Grand-prize winner Yang Lu took this photo at <a href="https://www.nps.gov/glca/index.htm">Glen Canyon National Recreation Area</a>, which stretches across Utah and Arizona. The engineer hopes that his photography will inspire people to visit places like this.</p>

Canyon Sunrise

Grand-prize winner Yang Lu took this photo at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which stretches across Utah and Arizona. The engineer hopes that his photography will inspire people to visit places like this.

Photograph by Yang Lu

10 Winning Images Capture the Beauty of Protected Lands

See breathtaking images of Glen Canyon, Death Valley, Yellowstone, and more.

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s annual Share the Experience photo contest recognizes amateur photographers who take pictures of federal lands and waters. The grand prize includes an Annual Federal Recreation Lands Pass, but more importantly, the winner’s photo will be printed on all 2016 passes. That means that this year, nearly 500,000 people will carry around a picture by winner Yang Lu when they make trips to federally protected areas.

Click through the gallery above to see Lu’s winning photo, as well as winners in categories like scenic, adventure, and night skies.

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