The winning entries in the 7th annual National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Photo Contest have been announced, and you can view the images on-line. In addition to enjoying some great photos, you may discover some new sites worth visiting around the country.

"A vibrant desert sunset, light cascading across dune vegetation, and the stillness of a northern quaking bog" were among the subjects in 67 images representing 56 landmarks across 28 states that were submitted in the 7th annual contest.

Top honors in the contest went to John H. Pilarski of Milwaukee for his photograph of Grapevine Mesa Joshua Trees in Arizona. Second place went to Christopher Jordon of Indianapolis for a photo of Dunes Nature Preserve in Indiana, and third place to Rodrigo Roesch of Glenview, Illinois, for his image of that state’s Volo Bog Nature Preserve.

These photos and 10 Honorable Mentions will be featured in next year’s NNL calendar to increase awareness of natural landmarks and celebrate the great diversity of our nation’s natural history. You can view the 13 winning photographs from this year’s contest at this link.

“These stunning photographs highlight the beauty of these spectacular places,” said National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis. “Our National Natural Landmarks Program was established in 1962 to encourage the preservation of the best remaining examples of the major biotic communities and geologic features composing the nation’s natural landscape. It is the only national natural areas program that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in both public and private ownership.”

The National Natural Landmarks Program "recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of our country's natural history." National Natural Landmarks (NNLs) are designated by the Secretary of the Interior, and although the National Park Service administers the program, it does not manage the sites themselves.

There are currently 586 national natural landmarks across the United States, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Sites in the program include quite a mix of ownership or administration, including federal, state, local, municipal, tribal, and private.

Private lands with NNL designations include those owned by universities, museums, scientific societies, conservation organizations, land trusts, commercial interests, and private individuals. Approximately 52% of NNLs are administered by public agencies, more than 30% are entirely privately owned, and the remaining 18% are owned or administered by a mixture of public agencies and private owners, so it's important to check on whether sites are open to the public before planning a visit to a specific NNL.

You can download a guide listing NNL's by state, a brochure about the program, and other information from the National Natural Landmarks Program website.